iRohit.com

He did it! And did it in a way that shall be remembered, and be compared to. It was the best match I have seen in my life and I have seen a few. Last year’s final was great, but this one was supreme. I remember the one between Goran and Pat Rafter. That was high on emotion, but not the best of tennis. Then there was Pete v/s Agassi in the late nineties. And ofcourse, the three between Becker and Edberg. But none can be compared to the one that was fought last sunday. I have heard about the ones between Borg and McEnroe, especially their last one in 1980, but then, I didn’t see that one.

In my mind I have no doubt that this will be rated as the best match in history. It will be the match that would be used as a benchmark for all others past and future. The level of tennis was maximal. It was not a match were one opponent played beyond himself and the other under performed. This was one match where both played almost the perfect match for well over 4 hours. I think both deserved to win the match, and neither should have lost. I recollect Vijay Amritraj dejectedly saying after the first point of the match that we had perhaps already seen the play of the day. And boy, how delightfully wrong he was. Play of the day is a feature run by Star Sports that replays the day’s most outstanding play. During the first rain break, they had showcased more than 10 such ‘play of the day’, such was the level of tennis.

So what now for Roger we wonder? I think, this loss will do him more good than bad. I won’t be surprised if he takes time off, regroups as comes out a even more better player.

Anyways, I would like to them to be there again next year, at the French and at the Wimbledon, and wouldn’t it be great to see Roger steal the French crown from King Nadal.

Boris reckons it will be Roger in 4 sets if he serves well, I think it will be Nadal in 5 sets no matter what. Roger is good on grass, but Nadal making it to the second sunday at Wimbledon for the third year straight, cannot be any less. So tonite, it’s going to be an epic duel.

And he did it again! And in style. So what does it mean… well for one, if these guys meet in the Wimbledon final this July, the ticket prices for the match will shoot through the roof. Perhaps, it might be the most expensive Wimbledon ticket to get.

So lets get back to the main topic. Poor Fedex, French Open is one parcel that he just can’t deliver. And the most disheartening aspect, yeah, not sad, that was in 2006, not even frustrating, that must be last year, is that it’s the same spaniard that stands in the way, Rafa. He just whisks past all others and then hits the wall, and this year it hurt bad. So where does this leave his legacy. Well no doubt that Roger is amongst of the best, but every time a detractor would be quick to remark about how he lost three times straight to Nadal. And this is what makes Roger a regular great player. Pete never managed to win at Paris also.

Now shifting focus to the greens at Wimbledon. I hope, really, really hope that they meet again on the Centre Court once again. It would be some match. And my bet is on Rafa this time again. Last year he almost beat Roger. And this year he is even closer. I think at this level, it’s all mental. The surface would not matter that much. Nadal seems to be getting better on grass. And after the rout at the French Open, Roger must be raring to make things even on the grass.

So if anyone happens to have an extra ticket to the match… you know where to find me and I shall forever be grateful

This year saw a repeat of last year’s gladiatorial fight for the Wimbledon and the French Open crowns in the men’s championship. Honestly, tennis is not what it used to be. The golden days of the 90’s are but a mere memory to most of us. But two names, Rafa and Federer, have tried to revive the passions amongst the fans. At the Roland Garros, it was the King of clay Rafa defending is turf against the supremely gifted Federer. Federer had just come of Hamburg after ending Rafael Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay. The tennis circuit was abuzz with one question, will he or won’t he. A win would mean a chance for a career Grand Slam, and in hindsight, as we look at the year’s other Grand Slam results, he would have achieved it.

But Rafa, had his reputation at stake here. And Rafa didn’t show even a hint of weakness as he proved once again that on clay his mastery is unrivaled. Roger looked lost on court at Roland Garros. I had a feeling that he was mentally not up to it. And at this level winning or losing is all decided in between the ears. Fast forward >> 1 month… & déjà Vu… Another Sunday, another final, same players, only this time it’s on the grass, and roles reversed. Now it was the King of grass, needing to prove his mastery and avenge his loss. Roger had had a comfortable path to the finals, not because the others were not good enough, but because he is so far ahead in his craft. Whereas Rafa in the latter part of the draw had to play a match a day till the finals. Yup, the rain gods had been very generous this summer at Wimbledon.

But this was not as one-sided a match as was expected. Infact Rafa played brilliantly, so brilliantly, that the otherwise calm Roger showed signs of frustrations, at one point suggesting that the Hawkeye was wrong. At that point, it was looking like Rafa was going to cause the biggest upset of this decade, hmm maybe baring the one Roger had caused, knocking out Sampras from the Wimbledon. It was tied at 2 sets all; with the fourth set suggesting that Rafa was more likely to win the Wimbledon than Roger winning the French Open. The match went into the decider. And then Roger came into his own. He showed the whole world why he is the best on grass. He wrapped the fifth, playing with nerves of steel and a touch of divinity, before Rafa could realized what hit him.

We all have heard it a zillion times, just how great Roger is. But Rafa is his Achilles’ heel. For all his greatness, there will always be a PS: about how he has not been able to conquer the clay at Roland Garros against Rafa. In some way, I feel, Roger needs to win the French defeating Rafa, and only then will he be hailed as the greatest. I think he too wouldn’t like it any other way! So I hope they make it 3 years in a row in 2008!!!

Wimbledon has it’s own aura, charm! By far the most preeminent tennis tournament event. The one thing that makes it different from all the others is also what gets it the most stick, ‘tradition’. Yes, I am refering to the almost inhumane schedule that my man, Nadal has, if he is to win the Championship. He will have to play everyday from today till the sunday if he wants a shot at the title. It is really hard as the quality of opponents just increases exponentially as one progresses to the latter rounds.

I personally think that the organisers should have played on Sunday considering that there were rains predicted on monday and tuesday. I mean, what were they hoping? A miracle! by which it would not rain just over the Wimbledon grounds. Science of predicting weather may not still not have been perfected, but the weather guys deserve some respect.

Anyways, Who do you thin will win? Ok, wrong question… Whom do you want to win?

For me it’s Rafa!!!

On a totally different note,
You may find this interesting, Apple’s evolution