Miami: On Anarchy and Perspective

Murray routed in straights. He’s 0-9 sets since the final of Oz. 



 
This is no longer a slump. He’s practically comatose.

“He needs to snap out of it.”

“He needs a coach.”

”He needs to be slapped about the chops with a wet (Omega-3 rich) halibut.”

We get it.

Expect a slew of smug, utterly irritating, self-satisfied, vindictive screeds, some not even bothering to masquerade as “commentary”, on how he might never win a Slam. On how he’s toast. On how this would never happen to <insert fanboy fave>.

I’m not denying that it’s all oppressively bleak right now. It just seems to me we’ve seen worse, from bigger and better players than Murray.

For all we know he might even look back upon this one day as a necessary dip. I’ve seen it happen before.

A little perspective wouldn’t go amiss.

 

”Call me ‘Bogie’ one more time…”

Meanwhile GGL and Dasco’s departure  (in addition to Kolya and TooMuch yesterday) has effectively killed the top section of Nole’s draw and rendered his entire quarter positively plebeian.

Did I mention Stan went down to Granola in three?

Or that Boy Wonders, Harrison and Milos bit the dust (as did Grigor AND Berankis AND Sock)? Boy bands must suck in Miami.

And the crazies don’t end there.

Maka slew Kleybanova – actually that’s not crazy. [In fact I gotta ask: how many of these “upsets” will Maka have to pull for us to concede they might not be, ya know, upsets?]

Even both of Robin and Marion had to go three sets to secure their openers.

So when Dinara snagged a set from Bepa it somehow didn’t seem so anarchical amidst what was otherwise absolute anarchy.

Whatever. See if I care. 



JAMES BLAKE KNOCKED OUT THE 27TH SEED, PEOPLE.

James Blake: Who can barely put two matches together for as far back as I can now remember.

A little perspective, if you please.




I doubt it amounts to much seeing as he’s playing Nole next.

But God help you, if you can’t find it within yourself to celebrate (or at least look fondly upon) this.

Your soul’s depravity clearly knows no bounds.

And the angels will WEEP for you.

(Pics: Getty) Read More...

WombleTown: Late Night Revellers and Disorderly Grannies

 

Surprisingly little of note happened on day two, what with the top seeds actually behaving like top seeds.

 

Djokovic d. Rochus 4-6 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-2

 

-- This one finished too late for it to get a mention from me yesterday.

 

When the last ball was struck a few minutes shy of the official 11pm cut-off last night in a match that was officially the latest finish ever in Wimbledon history, Djoko simply went over to the net and shook hands.

 

That’s right. Not sinking to his knees, not kissing the floor. Not even hugging his opponent in that way he’s so fond of.

 

 

Ok so there was some of that.

 

But I like the heart Djoko showed to see this one through. The tennis wasn’t always to write home about, but he squeezed out every last drop of adrenaline and sweat to get the win – not that different actually to what Fed had had to endure several hours earlier.

 

 

Big props to the little man by the way – who’s surely, now,  earnt the right to stop being called “the little man”.

 

The reason for the 11pm watershed? Local authority planning permission.

 

How very British.

 

Someone somewhere must have decided that we didn’t want to be disturbing the neighbours of sleepy SW19 with our late night finishes and Vuvuzela-less revelling.

 

Except sleepy suburbia this ain’t. And if anything, it’s the tennis fangirly grannies that are doing most of the after hours revelling.

 

Kanepi d. Stosur 6-4 6-4

 

-- Certainly the WTF result of the day. Perhaps even the biggest upset of the tournament so far, though surprisingly underreported in terms of it’s significance.

 

I didn’t see the match and Kanepi’s no slouch ; still, with the form she’d been in and everything we’ve been hearing of her all-court prowess, you’d expect her to get through.

 

-- Was the fact that he’s contemplating retirement or James Blake’s bust up with Pam Shriver the bigger story?

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Nadal on Blake’s Return

“He’s a very good player, I think he has one of the best returns of any player I have played.”

-- Nadal on James Blake after defeating him in Beijing

(Yahoo! Sports)

What you mean that thing he does, where he uses all your pace to flat ball a deep return back at your feet, before you’ve even completed your service motion?

Glad to hear he gave Rafa trouble and then some. Though I do fear that change in his coaching set up might be two years too late.

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Flushing Meadows: 10 Nuggets to Chew Over

Barring a seismic upset, of Roland Garros proportions, I probably won't be posting anything until the middle of next week.

Until then here's ten storylines to chew over, each of which I think could do with a more thorough examination.

Will the Slamless be 'enSlammed'?

Enough.

This debate has got to stop. The insults, the trash talk, while entertaining, do nothing to inspire love for, and enamour others to, our sport.

Me too. I've got to stop.

And something that'll help us stop is if one of the WTA's three most 'deserving' causes, Dinara, Elena or Jelena, get in on the act and put things 'right'.

It won't change my opinion and the perception of most sound and able minded people that this is a weak era. The tennis from which has an almost inbred, sterile, factory farmed feel to it.

But it'll be one less charge to level against the WTA.

The question's not if, but how much of the show will Kimmie or Pova steal?

Most or all of those sound and able minded people I mentioned in the last paragraph are appreciating, at least on some level, the comeback show these two have managed to put on.

It goes without saying that their presence will, rightly or wrongly, draw some or all of the limelight away from the top players.

Good luck to them.

I just hope it's for all the right reasons, and that Pova in particular is able to better upon that 2nd round outing at Wimbledon. Her performances outside of that have been as good as might reasonably be expected. I still sometimes grit my teeth as she steps up to serve though. Which is maybe an overreaction considering the problems Dinara, Ana and Elena continue to have with their own.

Will Federer cruise to #16 with consummate ease?

If his last two matches, and the absolute peach of a draw he's been given are anything to go by, you'd have to think that his run to the semis is all but certain.

The only credible threats in his section of the draw happen not to be threats at all. But rather the other founding members of his 'eight-and-oh' club. In fact Nikolay now has a newly convened 'twelve-and-oh' society under his control.

Things should liven up in the semis when, if all goes to plan rather than to pot, he'll run in to one of Djoko or A-Rod. Based on recent form I'd say it's Andy that presents the greater threat.

Will Murray survive the first week?

Just which high-ranking ATP/USTA official did Muzz snub?

Was it 'FootballGate' all over again? Did he go on record as saying he'd support anyone playing the New York Giants?

Did he suggest that he'd be cheering for anyone playing A-Rod?

Then why has he been shafted in the way he has?

After his opener against Gulbis, he has a likely third round meeting with Karlovic to look forward to.

After which he'll most likely play one of Stan Wawrinka or Marin Cilic, followed by a QF showdown with del Potro.

Assuming he gets that far, which at this point I'm not at all certain about.

Nice.

Is Jelena really back?

I'd like to think so. Except I'd be more convinced if she puts in a good showing at the venue where she normally does so well. I've learnt to treat Flushing as a kind of Testing Ground for her, a barometer into her form.

I've missed the flowing (and supposedly less muscle-clad) movement, and those fluid double handers down the line.

Yes I'm afraid Serbian Dramedy alone will not suffice. It hasn't lost it's appeal, but you need the tennis to back it up. Although she clearly hasn't gone the way Nole has, who lost his Dramedy and most or all of his intensity along with it. Maybe that dramedy is a hidden talent I've yet to learn to fully appreciate, and should really be giving it it's dues.

Maybe that, or her win in Cincy, will help spur her on.


Nole-Ana Well-Wishers Unite..

I dunno whether it's the traditional underdog supporter in me or the way in which both their worlds suddenly seem so unspectacular and devoid of any worthy attention.

Both I imagine. Rooting for the underdog is just about the only thing that trumps my love of Roger's game or Rafa's personality. And ok, Nole's the #4 player right now, but he's the undisputed underdog within that big-four clique.

So let this be the event in which Ana makes a convincing showing well into the second week, and Nole makes at least the final.

At this point both those propositions seem a little far-fetched. But what's a Slam without a frenzied bout of sentimental underdog support?

Does Zeljko need some new material?

I deem it both proper and befitting to call time on whatever approach Zeljko has been taking with Dinara. That 'go with your strengths' strategy may have worked it's wonders in her rise to the top. But this is now a turning point. And she should respond in kind by turning with it.

Things are only going to get tougher with the obscene amount of points she has to defend.

Let's start with that serve. Just don't go getting all abbreviated on me.

Is Vika really the best of the rest?

She makes a strong case. Her Slam results are impressive. And in Miami she's won a mandatory Premier event.

Not the description you might reasonably apply to her closest competitor, her-right-honourable-Wozness, who seems to prefer making finals she doesn't win.

I don't believe she did that much wrong in that loss she suffered to Serena at Wimby this year.

It seems her rage fuels her intensity, much in the way Jelena and Nole's Dramedian-Stand-Up Shows fuel theirs: It can be the making or the discombobulation of them.

So I'm gonna lobby for it's stay. Tasteless though it is.

Like I said in my last post, Womens tennis is all about executing plan A better than everyone else. And like Clijsters, Vika happens to be quite good at doing that.

RIP James Blake? RIP Marat Safin?

It's becoming very difficult to predict anything hopeful for either of these two, and almost painful to watch most of their matches lately. So I plan to do very little of either this time round. Ok maybe I will watch every Marat match after all.

Marat seems intent on retiring, and -- dare I say it -- it now almost seems right for him to do so, given that by his own admittance, he has so little love left for the game. It also makes sense to look for a worthy last swansong during the indoor season rather than here at the Open.

I wish them both well. I just want the pain to stop.

Someone make it go away.

RIP French Tennis?

All change. This is where I'm getting off. The end of the line. The last straw. My camel's heaved it's last, his back's officially broke.

Both my French bandwagons now stand wrecked in my drive, tyres slashed and paintwork scratched. I did that last bit myself.

French tennis is all about style over substance. And French Style no longer trumps anything for me.

I reserve my last dregs of support for Gasquet, still battling the doping authorities, the once proud owner of my favourite single handed backhand in the game; itself now trumped by more substantial and significantly less stylish strokes like Robin Soderling's discuss-throwing forehand.

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Davis Cup Round Up, and other bits'n bobs

-- I said in my last post that its been the season of fairytales and injury comebacks. Can I add pukeworthy scheduling cock ups to that list?

I thought we'd seen the last of it with GlamourGate at Wimbledon, but scheduling the quarter-finals of your sport's premier team event the week after arguably the most important date in the tennis calendar, makes me feel a couple of nine-year olds are in charge at the ITF.

-- Google Analytics reports that 70% of traffic generated by keyword searches was on the hunt for 'Are you looking at my Titles?'. Considering keeping a closer eye on Serena's inspirational T-Shirts. And an open mind re her writing aspirations. Or maybe just the T-shirts.

-- I'm rarely super enthused by anything that happens in pre-semis Davis Cup Tennis. But this week Israel beat Russia 4-1 to seal a place in their first ever Davis Cup semi final. Not that I expected any match that involves Marat not to go the distance, or to feature anything less than the entirety of his suite of emotional convulsions.

But Davis Cup is the one place where where Safin and Blake generally drop their 'I can't believe this is happening to me' demeanours and burst forth upon the world in an effusion of patrotic spirit. Didn't happen this time round. Blake went out in straights to Cilic today and Safin didn't even feature in the singles. An ominous sign for both their careers.

Players are kindly requested to return their overalls back to the flagpole they found them fluttering on...

(Photo: HRVOJE POLAN/AFP/Getty Images)

-- In the remaining two matches, Spain came through against Germany with Ferrero assuming virtual hero status after coming through in straights opposite Beck in their deciding singles rubber (move over Rafa), and Stepanek and Berdych saw the Czech Republic past Argentina. Didn't manage to see either, but I'm thinking the match featuring the Czech Headcases would make better viewing. What say you?

Ah, the "Shotokan Horse Stance"...

The "Driving Instructors' Victory Pose"

And...something else...

(Photo: SAMUEL KUBANI/AFP/Getty Images)

-- I've generally not been super impressed with what I've been seeing and hearing of the new crop of juniors on both the boys and girls side. Loutish behaviour, lack of discipline, an unwillingness to apply themselves to their chosen sport, boozy late nights - and all this with opportunities most around the world can only dream of.

Perhaps what I find most revolting of all is the way a large proportion (though not all) of them seem to think a couple of sponsorships and a half decent game, means a ticket to success and the right to lead a slightly premature A-list Celeb lifestyle.

It's not just tennis of course. We live in an on-demand age that values the rewards of achievement above the graft and talent required to get there.

My poor opinion was unchanged this week after hearing of the not-so-curious-but-quite-alarming case of Brydan Klein, a former junior Aussie Open Champ, suspended for sixth months and fined in excess of £14K, for racially abusing his opponent during the qualies at Eastbourne last month. He also spat at his opponent's coach.

Charmed. And a little relieved the authorities acted as swiftly and strongly as they did.

-- Rajeev Ram of the US, ranked #181, has just defeated Sam Querry to win the ATP 250 Title at Newport, Rhode Island - his maiden ATP Title at an event where he was forced to pull out of qualifying with a leg injury - later readmitted as a lucky loser.

Dude can volley well, by the looks of things...
(Photo: AP)

That's got to be some sort of a record surely!?
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Queens Club Trophy Ceremony...

I apologise profusely James - particularly after that strong showing.

What can I say, except that it's all in jest. And that your priceless expressions proved irresistable.

"Much as I love this post-modern lovingly sculpted artifact..."
(Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

"I'd sooo much rather have that one..."
(Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)


"I'm only kidding of course..."

(Photo: AP)

"Except I'm not..."
(Photo: Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

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More History in the Making...

You'll not be surprised to learn that last weeks rather hallucinatory tennis venture left me a little hung over.

So much so that I almost missed the week's action at Queens this year. It wasn't until Thursday that the matches began to vaguely interest me. And it took what I'm pretty sure qualifies as a once in a lifetime experience to get me fully on board: Andy Roddick hit a single handed backhand winner down the line.

I'm not even sure whom he was up against. Thinking back now I'd say it was in his match against Hewitt. But that's neither here no there. Grass makes things like that happen. The combination of the low bouncing, speedier and more slippery feel of the surface seems to connive together mischievously with the occasional imperfect bounce to yield a tennis experience that forces desperate plays like that. As well as players out of their comfort zone.

He was stretched out wide and found himself robbed of the time and court positioning he'd need to set himself up for that much improved double-hander we know (and don't always love) so well. I was expecting a desperate shot. And yes, instincts did take over, but not in the predictably unregulated way you might imagine. This was the A-Rod exuding confidence, with an almost craftsman-like air, knowingly going through the motions of the only aggressive shot possible under the circumstances. Rather like he's been all year.

Blake hit a single handed backhand slice winner down the line later that day that wasn't nearly as good - but in a split second that unique slice of Parisian history was, not forgotten, but tagged and suitably archived, to be enjoyed again another day, as I was suddenly reminded of my love affair with grass court tennis.

Sure, the rallies are considerably shortened, sometimes over in the blink of an eye - you sometimes think the authorities' intransigence to increase upon that 5-week 'season' is because it serves as a deliberate 'blink and you'll miss it' metaphor for those shortened rallies.

But like clay, grass rewards a particular style of play - to take advantage of it, you either need to be naturally gifted, or skilled enough to play to the needs of the surface.

No coincidence then that 70% of the field (hard courters, every last one of them) suddenly begins to look very ordinary out there.

And as entertaining a take on Wimbledon as it was, Lleyton's observation that "there's only a handful of players capable of winning Wimbledon each year", is unreservedly, spot on.

***

I suppose I should say something about Andy Murray, seeing as he won the Queen's Club Title today, the first Brit to do so in 71 years, when the trophy was lifted by someone calling himself 'Bunny' Austin.

(Yes alright, my sides split too the first time I heard that name. Now stop rolling around, and let's be adults please.)

"Stop pratting about with that arty shot of a clothes hanger and get a pic of this'ere piece of silverware..."
(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

"Alright that's too close boys..."
(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Such a resoundingly colourful name seems to reflect all the swagger of the age, the considerably different attitudes to the game - not at all out of place in a Golden Era of British Tennis in which you could count Fred Perry amongst your contemporaries. And sure enough his equally colourful Wikipedia bio makes mention of conscientious objection, tennis matches with Charlie Chaplin and a friendship with Daphne du Maurier.

Not to mention winning the Davis Cup for Britain alongside Fred Perry four times (1933-1936) and forming one half of the celebrity couple of the age.

And Tennis-Celebs these days think they know a thing or two about living it up.

You've got a lot to live up to Andy. And with a mundane sounding name like 'Andrew Murray' you might need some help jazzing it up. Which is where I think his game (and in particular his backhand) comes into it's own.

When Nadal pulled out of Queens last week, Andy suddenly found himself the top seed. Which was great, but I also remember thinking what presumably anyone who follows the sport for the other 48 weeks of tennis we have all year might think: with the big wins Murray's had since last year, with the title's he's won and his appearance in the US Open final, he should go on to win this thing with consummate ease.

Anything less would qualify surely, as a disappointment of the severest kind.

The good news is he did exactly as I'd hoped, serving his way to the Title without dropping a set.

Under the gaze of a very discerning and annoyingly expectant media eye.

No nerves. No expletives. No facial contortions. And not too many 'Andaaaaaaieeees'.

Just big serving, a repeat of his Wimbledon showing last year where he served on average at around 132mph, and a mixture of those crunching groundstrokes and feather light touch, that gave us amongst other things, two very special contenders for 'play of the week'.

Can't find a video but if you've seen it you'll know the ones I mean.

One was a perfectly timed lob off an aggressive net rush by Mardy Fish, a rush that actually saw Murray pushed far back. A position that would have caused other players to panic, but which instead saw Murray pull off a shot we all know he's capable of, but often recently seems too inhibited to try.

The other was a repeat of one of the shots Federer used en route to his first Wimbledon Title - a shot that lead the press to gush that he was reinventing tennis - a short half volley cross court winner flicked effortlessly by a player that demands more of his tennis.

All of which got me thinking. Murray often goes to great lengths to convince us that hard courts are his 'surface of choice', and that though he'd like to win Wimbledon, it's at the US Open that he feels most comfortable of winning his first Slam.

I dunno. Anyone that can transition to grass that seamlessly and begin to pull of the outrageous winners he did after what is after all a 'minimalist' grass court practice regime, surely must be considered a contender. More so, considering the wins he's had over Federer and Nadal.

And Andy might have more than the pressure of the British Press and Public this year. As if that weren't enough, it's also the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Fred Perry. The last Englishman to win Wimbledon.

Think Federer's win in Paris was historic? Hold your horses.
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Anti-ing the Anti Picks...

I had a real fun time of of it making anti-picks ahead of the Aussie Open. I thought about doing the same for RG, except that clay already has a habit of presenting struggling players in such an uncomplimentary light that the exercise felt a little redundant.

Speculating that James Blake won't make the second week of RG is hardly the most incisive piece of Sports commentary I've read this year; nor is it especially satisfying or informative to predict that Ana Ivanovic probably won't defend her crown.

That hasn't however stopped the press who have already begun peddling their own variants of the old "How many Americans does it take to change a Parisian light bulb?" gag, (None I would guess if the lights go out in the second week - bada-pam-Psshhh! Not very good I know) amidst their seasonal anti-picks.

Well off with the heads of such decriers of hope, there's nothing I dislike more than kicking someone when they're already down (though I do my part as a Rolex-sponsored minion in flooring them). Here's my list of anti anti-picks:

-- Andy Roddick - Quite simply stunning since the beginning of the year, culminating in a quarter final loss to Roger Federer at Madrid last week. DoN't lo0k nOw buT tHat'$ a clAy c0uRt evEnt. That was a silly attempt at one of those threatening letters where the sender uses newspaper-cuttings to conceal their handwriting. His new found belief sits well with the current trend of all-courters like Federer and Djokovic usurping clay-courters at the top of the game. I was already feeling an extraordinary rush of well-being when Blake made the finals at Estoril beating Nikolay in the process. But I'm more confident that it'll be Andy that breaks his third round RG curse this year.


-- Ana Ivanovic - Too easy to heap dirt on 'Little Miss Muffet'. Frightened away by the overwhelming pressure, not to mention the many spiders that go along with the #1 ranking. That gut wrenching feeling of being the hunted rather than the hunter. Or so conventional wisdom goes. See, while there's little doubt that may have been the initial catalyst for her downfall, and while she almost certainly wasn't ready for the #1 ranking, the truth is that things have moved on, and for the past 6 or 7 months, she's simply been devoid of all confidence playing almost -- dare I say it -- like a junior. And no amount of allusions to 'being a perfectionist' paint a different, more pretty picture.


That said, and much as I don't buy into Kardon's spin, I'm drawn to his effective maneuvering of the situation. In particular the way in which he's gotten Ana thinking her problems are down to her own drive. There's something strangely energising about repeating something over and over again - such mantras far from unlocking any kind of mystical energy seem to operate as a kind of chisel, that chips away reshaping the psyche until the very words begin to pervade the id.

All a very long winded way of saying that I think some of that positivity (however deluded) may play a part in turning things around for her. She almost certainly won't defend her title, but a quarter final should be within her grasp and that, I hope will be the turning point.

-- Andy Murray - Yes it's become fashionable to bash Andy once again. Now that he's all helplessly exposed, vulnerable, and unsure of quite what he's about out there on clay. I've done it myself. I actually had this post in progress entitled 'Elephant in the room', which went through (at length) what I felt no one was mentioning enough. How a player so adept at carving up the rest of the top four has gone back to being such an ineffective tortured mess on court once again. Not to mention my fears of how difficult he might find it to extricate himself from this clay court spell of unproductive tennis. Or What that might do for his chances at Wimbledon.

But let's reexamine this. He came into Monte Carlo on a high having won Miami. Riding that wave of momentum, he reached the semis there playing the type of tennis I've called him up on so many times, going out unsurprisingly to Rafael Nadal. Though not before showing us, for a set, why he might rightly be considered a force on clay the way he is everywhere else.

He then went out early in Rome, which I'll be the first to admit is an absolute stinker. Though he did go out to Juan Monaco who's been proving troublesome for many players (David Ferrer another casualty there).

Maybe with a more grounded assessment of his standing on clay, he came into Madrid playing the kind of off key, unspectacular tennis that has made many wonder why he's proven so troublesome to the top three. And yet still made the quarters, going out to Del Potro who's found himself on clay more naturally than Andy.

That ain't half bad for a surface you despise.

So though I doubt he'll be responsible for many high profile casualties, I do think that if a few things go his way, he shouldn't have much trouble getting to the quarters.

-- James Blake - Going out on a bit of a limb here. But like Roddick , I do think James has a decent chance of getting the Parisian monkey off his back. And not only because he beat Nikolay en route to the Estoril final. A C l a y C o u r t E v e n t . I thought he would continue his clay court love affair and do quite well at Madrid, but had the misfortune to run into Federer in the third round.

Not that I think he'll reach the 2nd week. That'd be extending good will to ridiculous lengths. But I do think he can get to the fourth round. Why ever not?


(Little Miss Muffet image from The National Nursery Book via mamalisa.com)
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Theories: The Oasis

Time to talk a little Roger.

See I have a theory, or I should say another theory, given the amount I've attempted to peddle these months gone by. Not all of them very secure.

I'm beginning to think that a return to those old fashioned routs of guys he has intimidating H2Hs against, might turn out to be the best curative for Roger and his tennis right now. Not a groundbreaking insight, but there it is.

That's the way things are meant to work. If you're struggling with the exhaustive and relentless grind of the pro circuit, or just a little under the weather - you go off and play Challengers for a while; and after beating up on lesser individuals in locations as far afield as Izmir (where you can find none other than Joachim Johansson this week) or Sarasota for a while, sometimes only in front of only a handful of people -- and in some cases having to retrieve your own balls -- you'll hopefully reemerge revived, more appreciative of how good you have it and brimming with confidence. Back to the world of business class flights and VIP boxes. Or so the theory goes.


It's how Agassi nursed his way back to a more healthy ranking after his well-publicised fall from grace.

No need for anything as dramatic as that in the case of Roger though. I think the equivalent form of rehab for him lies in playing guys he's confident of beating - top players of course, so it actually means something, and providing of course such fruitful draws are conferred upon him.

The matches he's played over the last few months -- even those he's won -- all have a laboured, constricted feel about them. There's no flourish, little enjoyment it seems, and worse still - a stifling sense of urgency about needing to find his form.

But all that might be about to change. If my theory has any sense to it at all. His match against Roddick today was certainly not 2007 all over again. But there were those occasional moments of brilliance that have all too often recently, remained in the background, shimmering away invitingly in the distance. Like a tantalising oasis that -- depending on your take -- serves either as a reminder of how close he might still be to those great things of years gone by, or a more sobering realisation that things have moved on, and spells of ethereal tennis like that are likely to be few and far between.

But make no mistake about it - this is the best draw Roger's seen since the onset of the clay court season. Villainous, vilified Robin Soderling, a guy he owns 8-0. James Blake, 8-1, his only loss to the man coming amidst that tumultuous period at the Olympics last year, surely now vindicated as the anomaly-of-all-anomalies. And then there's Andy Roddick. Not even going to get started on the sparring partner analogies - I respect the year he's had too much. But he's now a very unflattering 18-2.

And can you believe they threw Nikolay in there too, imbuing his section of the draw with an unmistakable 'pre-mono' quality.
In fact the only guy missing from this feel-good class-of-2007 reunion is David Ferrer, that other member of the '8 and oh' club.

The only thing that slightly flies in the face of the theory is that Andy Roddick, for two sets at least, played the kind of tennis that maybe just does suggest that things may have moved on a little from 2007. He's certainly moved on posting a very healthy 26-5 for the year to date. A quarter final appearance is not at all what you might expect from him in his first event on clay this year. His first since getting married in fact.

Of course I'll only really be vindicated if Federer makes it to the final beating Murray in the process (nothing at all convincing about getting past Juan, a guy you creamed 3-0-0 in your last match) and puts in a convincing effort opposite Rafa; but I'm thinking even beating Murray here might not mean all that much given how unconvincing he's been on clay (I'm not yet convinced Andy will even make it past Juan). But that does surely offer up an opportunity to regain some of that lost confidence.

***

And the answer to yesterdays poser, that you've no doubt already googled anyway, was of course squash's GOAT Jahangir Khan.


There's always a debate to be had about comparisons being made across different sports; I just think that picking up a major without dropping a point transcends all of that pretty convincingly. Not to mention how it squares up with winning Slams without dropping a set.

How's this for a training regime:

For his training, he would often start his day with a 9 mile jog which he would complete in 60-120 minutes at a moderate pace, followed by short bursts of timed sprints. Later he would weight train in the gym finally cooling down in the pools. He would follow this routine 5 days a week. On the 6th day he would match practice and rest on the 7th day.

He also said that he has experienced running on every surface - from custom-built tracks to asphalt roads, grass & farm fields to sea shores & knee-deep waters. Sometimes he would also visit the northern areas of Pakistan to train in high altitude fields under low oxygen conditions. All in all it made Jahangir one of the most physically and mentally fit athletes in the world [Source:Wikipedia].

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First Impressions...

Well it's been a few days now, and I know I was quite harsh with the event's '5th Slam' pretensions not to mention that glorious blue stuff, but I've had some time to form a more considered and hopefully more balanced opinion of the facilities at Madrid.

(Photo: Javier Soriano/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)

-- The main stadium 'Manolo Santana' arena as I think it's called is a real hit with me. A sumptuous delight for the senses.

I did at first take a rather strong exception to what are presumably the more pricey seats - iron clad enclosures with holes born into them, giving a kind of futuristic 'fortressey' feel to things. Only they're less 'Star Wars' and more 'Dr Who' (the 80s edition of course that used to take pride in it's 'understated' approach to special effects). However they do have a weird charm, and really come into their own if you pan the camera back and have a look at an aerial shot of the entire stadium. It's then that their distant silvery sheen adds well to the mix of red seating and the general polished glassy feel of the surroundings. These are the only pictures I could find, and don't do the venue justice I feel - try, as I say to catch an aerial view of of the stadium during live coverage.


-- Not a fan of the 'box trap' approach to roofing (see first pic): the way they're kept at a kind of half tilt during matches. It may look great as a promotional image, and I'm sure it's a wonderful feat of technical wizardry that ensures the roofs are opened and shut quicker than you can say 'Mutua Madrilena', but also unfortunately gives proceedings a distinctly 'indoor' feel. Even when the sun's out.

-- Ditto with the Aranxta Sanchez Vicario and other outside arenas. I wonder how she feels about having such a dimly lit arena named after her. What little natural light is available is obscured by the edges of a partially covered roof, giving the whole arena a 'cauldron' effect. In fact it's more well lit when the sun goes down and the indoor lighting kicks in. Hindsight's a wonderful (and annoying) thing but I'm sure it's not just me that feels that roof should have been built a little higher. The only positive thing about the stadium comes in the form of the unintrusive white panelling on the upper portions of the walls - the white squares providing the feel of what looks like unintended Japanese decor. They also make the stadium look a bit like an old Dojo - or, given the earthy feel of the clay court surface, a Sumo Wrestling arena.

-- Outside of the stadium and around the grounds, it's as polished as ever - but there's also far too much metal on show - and not of the sleek, modern variety. No, I speak of the cagey, almost penal look (thanks to Marcus Buckland of Sky Sports for that description) of some of the walkways, that at times feel a little like a building site. But that's ok, as it is a work in progress and I understand they've planted vines across those walkways that will intertwine with the caging, giving a Wimbledon-like ivy clad look to things.

-- The website sucks. It's clearly been designed by someone who thinks 'laterally' - and not in a good way. Most pages require you to navigate an unwieldy horizontal scrollbar to get at what are usually the most pertinent bits of information (that on other sites would be the most accessible). The alternating garish background colours are particularly offensive bearing a resemblance to the colour schemes employed by some of the 8-bit home computers in the eighties.

***

As to the tennis, both of the Williamses, Dementieva and Kuznetsova are out in their opening or 3rd round matches. Not great for my RG picks. Particularly disappointed by Dementieva, although you've gotta love the elegant way Amelie closed out that last set. Safina and Jankovic to hold fort then.

Two other shockers in the men's event today. Blake came through in what looked like three tough sets against Dr Ivo today. Continuing to love the whole 'I can do clay' thing from Blake, though he plays Federer next, so I'm thinking that's about to come to an end along with my wavering loyalty.

And how about Ferrer going out to Monaco in straight sets? Monaco's beginning to take on the kind of giant killer role that Tipsarevic held around two years ago. Not a great fan of that kind of game, but I did after all issue a call to arms for the 'real' clay courters to take back what the top four (and a number of others) have taken from them - so I've gotta credit him for stepping up.

Top 4? Rafa and Djoko through very convincingly. Andy and Roger, rather less so. Roger's first set against Robin Soderling had the look of a bagel, but Robin managed to claw a game back losing it 6-1. The second set however went all the way to 5-5 before Roger took the remaining two games. It's now got to the point where I almost wish Roger would come out all guns blazing, yanking the rug from underneath his opponents, and finishing in two very quick scorching sets. rather than putting us through these ulcer-inducing episodes.

Robin seems to be something of a hate figure after his Rafa impersonation at Wimbledon a couple of years back - a tactless protest at the amount of time Rafa takes in between points.
Nasty episode. Bad, bad Robin.

Angry throng of fork-wielding Rafanatics aside, I can't stand the man's forehand. I previously thought Radek Stepanek had the worst forehand on tour. How he makes one of the most elegant shots in tennis look so sloppy I'll never understand. What I do know is Robin has surpassed him in sheer ugliness. His exaggerated take back gives the stroke the look of a rioter flinging a burning rail into a police flank.

Fedophiles and Rafanatics stand united on this one....
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From our "How'd That Happen?" Correspondent in Estoril...

(Photo: Sentanta Sports)

Now this is a result I cannot relate to:

Estoril

Singles -Final
[7] A Montanes (ESP) d [4] J Blake (USA) 57 76(6) 60

Singles Semifinals
[4] J Blake (USA) d [2] N Davydenko (RUS) 67(3) 76(2) 63

Set aside for the moment the fact that James Blake -- with the season he's been having -- found it within himself to make the final of a clay court event. I would have thought he would have gagged just trying to pronounce those words.

But hows about taking out Nikolay en route to the final?

Looks like the effects of the serum wore off in the final.

No matter. This is an astonishing result, coming as it does just a couple of weeks ahead of RG. The last American to make the final here was Todd Martin in 1999. Try not to let the absence of Marquee names here get in way of your celebrating it James.

Now if Andy and him could follow that up with a cocky double act at Madrid...
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Allez Amelie...

It was at times painfully evident, during Amelie's three set deconstruction of Elena this weekend, at just how well placed she is not just to defuse Elena's groundstrokes, but those of most any high powered baseliner in the top twenty; which for me makes it all the more frustrating.


Not that it was a particularly high quality match. Both are clearly capable of better things. But that I suppose is the point for me: a fully fit Amelie playing at around 75% or above trumps most powerballers not named Williams (although do you remember that match she had with Venus at the final of the Proximus Games some four years back - it was around the time Williams was finding her way back from injury to eventually win at Wimbledon -- a real showcase of contrasting styles).

If anything, Elena tried a little too hard to contend with the blend of slice, pace and moonballing that was being thrown her way. She would have probably been more successful if she'd doggedly stuck to her natural strengths (flat balling Amelie from the back of the court is what you're about Elena); instead on occasions, she got drawn into playing Amelie like Amelie - and the sight of Elena at the net is not a pretty one, although a true sign perhaps of how desperate things were out there.

Like most Amelie fans, I'd love this to indicate the beginning of bigger and better things for her in what must surely be the twilight of her career. But it's probably more realistic to mark down our expectations by a notch or two. For one thing staying uninjured presents a difficult challenge - particularly against players that are altogether too ready to give her the run around.

***

I called Radek's win in Brisbane back in January, this year's first venture into how'd-that-happen territory. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting him to follow up in San Jose. But perhaps even more amazing was to hear of five Americans ensconced in the quarters. When was the last time that happened? And why did none of them go on to win the title? It's moments like these that Andy, James and Mardy (and even Sam if he's to remain a Young Gun) will need to learn to take advantage of -- even if Radek chooses to behave like a baddie from a Roald Dahl book. I suppose Mardy got to the final, but the other two have some reflecting to do.

***

I've seen a bunch of recent articles all of which seem to suggest that the Serbs are on some kind of downward spiral. There can be no doubt that they are struggling right now, (Ana in particular has had her well documented problems since Roland Garros last year) but I think it's time to cut them some slack as some of those problems at least, might have begun to bottom out.

• Ana's just appointed Kardon as a Coach, whose blend of experience and maturity might prove to be just what she needs. She's made a decent enough start at Dubai in defeating Kleybanova and Coin - hardly the stuff of legend, but opponents whom she might have struggled against last year.
• Jelena's form is normally quite sketchy early in the year -- her season ending exertions usually catch up with her in January and always seems to be recovering from some kind of virus or infection. I predicted a Slam for her in 2009 and I'm sticking with the view that it's most likely to come at Roland Garros.
• Novak worries me - if it was just a case of poor form I might be less concerned, but his ambivalence at times suggests he's a little lost and couldn't care less. He did make the Aussie Open quarters so let's not all of a sudden forget what the guy's capable of, but ranking points don't last forever - and in the presence of the threat from that man Murray he's going to have to step it up sooner rather than later. I still think Clay and Grass presents him, as well as those other three, with an opportunity (surprising for a hard courter I know), since (Tsonga not withstanding) these surfaces still seem a little intractable to the less nuanced player. But if he hasn't made his mark by Roland Garros, the doom mongering won't be premature.

Mauresmo image by Richard Fisher

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Magic and Misadventure in Melbourne...

Lleyton & The Gonz (Not to be confused with the Fonz)

Though I anti-picked him to drop out early, it was a little rough to be drawn against Gonzo in the first round, and Rusty did manage to drag things out to 5 sets which at least shows that the fire isn't quite out. There was however, something very one sided about the sets that Gonzo won, where he seemed to be reeling off winner after winner exposing just how vulnerable Hewitt's game (that serve in particular is perhaps too inviting in an almost "I'll set 'em up, you knock 'em back" kind of way) is in post-Fedora era.

Hewitt did interestingly state his intent to get back into the top ten. It's not impossible (he's not after all that old), and I love the attitude. I just think that the days where you could crack the top ten on spirit alone are long gone.

Extra brownie points for Gonzo's Clinic on forehand winners and returns of serve.

Just WHY is Blake wearing a Collar? (And why's he getting so hot under it?)

Cracking match against Canadian Frank Dancevic - who by the way is my exhibit A for the alarming levels of depth in men's tennis. I first saw him play at the back end of 2007, where ranked around #70 he appeared to have it all and I expected him to rise. He didn't deliver, and has in fact regressed a little (to #123 I think).

There was a slight edge to this match, which wasn't played in entirely good spirits - (anyone know why?) Blake didn't seem to want to think twice about firing a ball directly at Dancevic who just got out of the way in time, but they did shake hands well enough at the end.

But I'll tell you what: I love the slightly more surly and aggressive Blake; he was certainly playing a lot better than he has for months. A new phase in his career maybe? Weird things tend to happen when you turn 30. Not loving the collar one bit though. Blake can get away with most any look: bandanaed, cap (worn both ways), headband, sleeveless or sleeved. But something about the collar or it's fitting is not quite right.

Extra brownie points for Blake's uncharacteristically edgy attitude.

Rafa and Not-Quite-Goliath

Loved the new outfit - but would people stop reading too much into his duffing up of Rochus?
Yes he appeared to be hitting a lot more harder and flatter than he perhaps ever has. (Has the forehand changed?) But would you expect anything less!?

Extra brownie points for Rochus and his smile when he took his first game.

That Fedora Bloke

Not as solid as he could have been against Seppi - though that passing shot was something special (If you don't know the one I mean, go way. Please). But it was no cakewalk either as has been suggested in some quarters. Seppi's no slouch - I've seen him seeded around 31-32 in the past and though Fedora pretty much owns him, he would have troubled most anybody else.

Extra brownie points for - you've guessed it - that passing shot.

Ana "Help - I've forgotten how to serve" Ivanovic

Still stuck in the mire. Still very, very unconvincing. Just why'd it take her so long to take that first set from Brianti (who by the way bears a striking resemblance to to Justine Henin complete with single handed backhand) And don't even get me started on the ball toss. I should say tosses as she's getting a little too close to Time Violation territory with those repeated practice throws. Has she been practising with Dementieva?

Brownie points carried over and may well be awarded to Wozniacki whom she may face in the fourth round. My heady intuition tells me that the Dane will and should come out on top. I hope we get to see this one.

Gasquet v Junqueira

What a work out! A surprisingly tough draw for Reeshard (Junqueira is one of the most successful players on the Challenger Circuit). Gasquet took it in four but the length of most of the rallies as well as the searing heat will have made it feel more like five which unless your name is David Ferrer, you really should try and avoid.

Extra brownie points for Gasquet's well-struck sliced, swinging serve he used to keep at least some of the points short.

Baghdatis v Soderling

Well, well - who would have guessed? Baggy is looking a little like he was in 2006. Not going to get too excited as he was facing a quite limp Soderling, and he had what sounded like half of Cyprus supporting him. But he was displaying exactly the kind of magic that's been strangely absent for, what, 3 years now? The surprising speed and agility and the quick changes of pace and direction that can catch the very best off guard.

Extra brownie points for Robin, who despite the problems with his foot, didn't throw in the towel (and took some unnecessary abuse from some of Baggy's more ill-mannered supporters)

Those Russian Siblings

Well they've made the third round. Haven't been able to see much of Safin but Safina is a little too up and down. She managed to come through in three sets yesterday (a bagel in the last set) but Makarova played a really high quality first set and things could have looked very different if she'd sustained that.
Not gonna say a word on Safin (certainly not gonna get drawn into anything remotely optimistic) except that he's playing Fedora-man in round three and though I don't expect too much from Marat, I'm hoping for at least some showcase tennis. It may be the last time he faces Roger and this match has got brownie points written all over it.

Djoko and his Stick

Nothing much to say here, except to echo 2Hander's observation that Djoko may have begun to find some real form with his new racquet. It's still early days, and like the other members of the top four, he hasn't yet had a real test, but I'm hoping very strongly he continues in this vein - it would add well to the already very intriguing Tales of the Murray-Fedora prickliness (which Djoko wants a piece of by the sounds of it), and Nadal's Newi-sh Forehand.

Brownie points for Novak learning how to play tennis again.

Oh and be sure not to miss Venus' 2nd round encounter with 20 year old Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. This girl has a single handed backhand to die for. I caught some of her matches at Roland Garros last year and though the rest of her game has a very under-developed quality that leaves much to be desired, this is a truly Henin-like picturesque stroke that the commentators said is better than Henin's backhand was at 20.

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