On Sunday,5th July, history was being rewritten at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, better known as Wimbledon. Roger Federer and Andy Roddick played as if their life depended on it and what resulted was one of the greatest match of all times!
The score line, 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14,in Roger's favor bears testimony to the exemplary tennis on show on Sunday.
Andy Roddick knew the script well. Having played in two Wimbledon Finals prior to 2009 he knew what it takes to play at Centre Court for the Wimbledon Trophy. Sadly however he never could experience what it feels to emerge the winner here. Just one man stood between him and the trophy in 2004 and 2005, and it was the same man who faced him this year as well. Inspite of trailing Roger 2-18 in one-to-one encounters, he did not display any signs of fear or awe. On the other hand his countenance suggested a determination to make sure that the record books were changed to read
3-18!
Roger Federer on the other hand looked relaxed. Playing to win his 15th Grand Slam he knew the workout very well. If he has to look back upon Wimbledon 2008, he can afford to grin.
Last year he was at his peak. Playing the best tennis of his life he had assumed the proportions of someone invincible! Outright winners and clever subtle passes he was doing what he did best...i.e. to decapitate your opponent with ruthless efficacy. The called him the Smiling Assassin, who took pleasure in packing off his opponents with a sublime touch.
Yet he somehow lost his way at Rolland Garros and then to a large extent his Aura at Wimbledon in 2008. A juggernaut called Rafael Nadal had managed to unlock the secrets of defeating the champion! He single handedly dismantled Roger with his assiduous tennis. Federer would not admit, but Rafael had assumed dangerous proportions of a mental block. Not that he did not have the tennis to beat Nadal, he just could not control his nerves!
All that changed this year, Nadal lost to Soderling at the French Open and Federer looked history in the eye and it blinked. Equalling Pete's record of 14 Grand Slams he was back to his winning ways.
On Sunday however he was not at his best. He even descended to the level of Ordinariness. There were glimpses of his genius but they were many times overshadowed by anxiety. Battling all that and a phenomenal Roddick, he won to become the greatest of all times, atleast on the Grand Slam scale!
Coming back to Roddick, he had worked hard for this face-off. Reducing his weight,increasing his fitness, working with the best, he had taken his game to the next level and on sunday he showed that. Many friends argued with me that Roddick was the better player in the final. Maybe they are right. After all he broke Federer's serve thrice and Federer could unravel his powerful serve only once. But I choose to disagree. Federer might have broken him only once when leading 15-14 in the last set,the 77th game of the marathon match; but he consistently scored on Roddick'serve throughout the match. He was tied 40-40 on many occasions,its just Roddick was good enough to stop him from taking advantage. On the other hand Federer won on his serve 40-0 on a consistent basis and to me had the better service game.
The bottom line however is that it was a breath-taking match,thanks to both stalwarts who displayed amazing skills and panache during the course of the epic final. Federer got his 15 Grand Slams and his place in History as the greatest of all times whereas Roddick will have to undergo the grind once again.
One question that will no doubt cloud Federer's conscience is whether he could have got his 14th and 15th had Nadal been around? The verdicts a open house on that one.
Could he have tamed his tormentor to win? True he defeated Nadal in Madrid this year, and that too on a slow court,but could he have managed that at the Grand Slams? As i said it is not lack of skill or talent but a psychogenic shortcoming which undermines his ability when Rafael Nadal is on the other side of the net.
Federer no doubt understands this. I am sure he wont rest until he defeats Nadal at a Grand Slam. All factors therefore point to a surreal US Open this year. It will the venue for the clash of two titans. Federer waits, Nadal waits and like me millions of fans all around the world wait for that ultimate sporting spectacle!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
"My Desi Girl..."
The clock ticked away…well that is what it is supposed to do, given it has no other worth wile purpose in its life! It was an unearthly 15 minutes past midnight. Slumped in a seat outside Gate 14 of Terminal C, I fidgeted in an uncomfortable sleep.
Then suddenly my mobile phone-the bane of modern lifestyles, started vibrating violently and emanated a silly tone. I cursed it from the bottom of my heart. I thought it had done so deliberately with the sole purpose of disturbing my 40 winks. Caught between the throes of going back to sleep and hacking the hell out of the phone with a sickle, it was with much relief that I discerned the boarding call for flight 9W0062 from Mumbai to Bangkok amidst the din going on behind my back. The source of this cacophonous orgy was a group overzealous bunch of travelers who had no qualms over exercising their vocal chords at the highest pitch, much to the chagrin of unfortunate souls like myself.
Thinking nothing worse can befall me I proceeded towards the boarding gate where many people were clamoring to be the first to board the plane. Inured to the constant hustle and bustle of Mumbai- local trains, buses, et all, their mind had become impervious to reason. Poor ingenuous souls did not realize that the vehicle designated to carry them to Thailand- The land of the White Elephant had not denigrated to the class of cut-throat travel. With much relief I recollected that we were to be seated in the Business Class and returned the obsequious greetings of the flight attendant.
Finally seated and already getting comfortable I was throwing cursory glances to investigate what company I would be sharing when suddenly the craft went silent and I witnessed a wonder of the modern world step in. Straight trousers, smart striped shirt which accentuated her figure, stylish red rimmed spectacles and above all – the epitome of beauty, she headed straight to where me and my sister were seated and my heart missed a beat! The air-hostess then directed her to a seat diagonally opposite me and it finally dawned upon me that we were in the august company of the ‘Desi Girl’, Piggy-chops or PC.
Now a point of clarification, I detest all the titles endowed upon the subject of this conversation.
Desi Girl? It has the insinuations of something sinister or crude like Desi Daru…My friend CC can elaborate.
Piggy-Chops? I understand the porcine admiration of Lord Emsworth in Wodehouse’s Blandings Castle but no one in their proper minds can choose to associate the dahling with anything to do with a pig. Not even those desi-dipsomaniacs mind you!
PC? She is one of her kind, how can u call her PC, it sounds so bland and hackneyed
I would prefer to call her, Miss Priyanka Chopra. For all those who did not have the insight to understand the object of my loquacious ramblings uptil now – Bollywoods very own Priyanka Chopra had just boarded the plane and was about 4 feet away from me.
The reaction in the plane was interesting. I was totally stunned and must have been open mouthedly staring into space. My sister was quickly commenting on her pros and cons, her positives and negatives, her qualities and vices, her ying and yang, I cannot understand how women can so quickly prepare a character sketch of another specimen of the same sex!
A gentleman and his family were feeling as if an exotic animal had been brought to the zoo, especially for them to witness; his wife quickly sat on the seat besides Miss Chopra and started brushing her hair in a clear attempt to outshine Miss Chopra in the picture which her husband was gearing up to click! Some celerity on part of the air-hostess prevented this from happening and the couple was quickly dispatched to their seats at the far end of the plane.
The seats in front of us were occupied by a middle-aged man and his wife, Priyanka had booked both the seats to their left-diagonally opposite me. Now undeterred by the firmness with which the earlier paparazzi were treated, this gentleman got up with his cell-phone and attempted to click a picture. Miss Priyanka was agitated and suddenly sprang into animated gestures as if the director had yelled-ACTION
Miss Priyanka-“How dare you try to take my picture! Shut the camera right now! “
Mrs. Paparazzi-“He is not interested in you. He is just taking pictures of friends sitting behind you!”
Mr. Paparazzi-“Who are you to decide that I am not interested! Ofcourse I am interested!” (in his mind of course)
Airhostess- “ Photography is totally prohibited in the flight. Kindly take your seats!”
Me-“ Ah! My day is made. Now that was quite a tamasha!”
Airhostess (to Mrs. Paparazzi)- “ Now ma’am, this is our menu from which you can order later”.
Mrs. Paparazzi- “Huh…I don’t want anything!” (Clearly embarrassed)
While all this drama ensued, Priyanka was conveniently talking on the phone. Not just talking but smiling and giggling.
Nupur was convinced it was Shahid Kapoor. I didn’t care. The air-hostess obviously cared! She requested Priyanka to switch off her phone. The request was ignored. The same instruction was repeated as the safety procedures were explained and the craft started taxing towards the runway. Special request to Priyanka which again was greeted with more giggling into the phone. Flight ready to take off and Priyanka was asked again to switch off her phone; she replied haughtily-“ I am trying to!”. Some more giggling and eventually she obliged.
Seat belts were fastened, peace descended in the cabin, the craft picked up speed and we were on our way to Bangkok. The Star-Experience had been phenomenal. Attitude was on display to the hilt. Are all the stars the same? Disregard for common rules and regulations? Air of superiority just because millions adore them? If yes then I totally pity them!
Then suddenly my mobile phone-the bane of modern lifestyles, started vibrating violently and emanated a silly tone. I cursed it from the bottom of my heart. I thought it had done so deliberately with the sole purpose of disturbing my 40 winks. Caught between the throes of going back to sleep and hacking the hell out of the phone with a sickle, it was with much relief that I discerned the boarding call for flight 9W0062 from Mumbai to Bangkok amidst the din going on behind my back. The source of this cacophonous orgy was a group overzealous bunch of travelers who had no qualms over exercising their vocal chords at the highest pitch, much to the chagrin of unfortunate souls like myself.
Thinking nothing worse can befall me I proceeded towards the boarding gate where many people were clamoring to be the first to board the plane. Inured to the constant hustle and bustle of Mumbai- local trains, buses, et all, their mind had become impervious to reason. Poor ingenuous souls did not realize that the vehicle designated to carry them to Thailand- The land of the White Elephant had not denigrated to the class of cut-throat travel. With much relief I recollected that we were to be seated in the Business Class and returned the obsequious greetings of the flight attendant.
Finally seated and already getting comfortable I was throwing cursory glances to investigate what company I would be sharing when suddenly the craft went silent and I witnessed a wonder of the modern world step in. Straight trousers, smart striped shirt which accentuated her figure, stylish red rimmed spectacles and above all – the epitome of beauty, she headed straight to where me and my sister were seated and my heart missed a beat! The air-hostess then directed her to a seat diagonally opposite me and it finally dawned upon me that we were in the august company of the ‘Desi Girl’, Piggy-chops or PC.
Now a point of clarification, I detest all the titles endowed upon the subject of this conversation.
Desi Girl? It has the insinuations of something sinister or crude like Desi Daru…My friend CC can elaborate.
Piggy-Chops? I understand the porcine admiration of Lord Emsworth in Wodehouse’s Blandings Castle but no one in their proper minds can choose to associate the dahling with anything to do with a pig. Not even those desi-dipsomaniacs mind you!
PC? She is one of her kind, how can u call her PC, it sounds so bland and hackneyed
I would prefer to call her, Miss Priyanka Chopra. For all those who did not have the insight to understand the object of my loquacious ramblings uptil now – Bollywoods very own Priyanka Chopra had just boarded the plane and was about 4 feet away from me.
The reaction in the plane was interesting. I was totally stunned and must have been open mouthedly staring into space. My sister was quickly commenting on her pros and cons, her positives and negatives, her qualities and vices, her ying and yang, I cannot understand how women can so quickly prepare a character sketch of another specimen of the same sex!
A gentleman and his family were feeling as if an exotic animal had been brought to the zoo, especially for them to witness; his wife quickly sat on the seat besides Miss Chopra and started brushing her hair in a clear attempt to outshine Miss Chopra in the picture which her husband was gearing up to click! Some celerity on part of the air-hostess prevented this from happening and the couple was quickly dispatched to their seats at the far end of the plane.
The seats in front of us were occupied by a middle-aged man and his wife, Priyanka had booked both the seats to their left-diagonally opposite me. Now undeterred by the firmness with which the earlier paparazzi were treated, this gentleman got up with his cell-phone and attempted to click a picture. Miss Priyanka was agitated and suddenly sprang into animated gestures as if the director had yelled-ACTION
Miss Priyanka-“How dare you try to take my picture! Shut the camera right now! “
Mrs. Paparazzi-“He is not interested in you. He is just taking pictures of friends sitting behind you!”
Mr. Paparazzi-“Who are you to decide that I am not interested! Ofcourse I am interested!” (in his mind of course)
Airhostess- “ Photography is totally prohibited in the flight. Kindly take your seats!”
Me-“ Ah! My day is made. Now that was quite a tamasha!”
Airhostess (to Mrs. Paparazzi)- “ Now ma’am, this is our menu from which you can order later”.
Mrs. Paparazzi- “Huh…I don’t want anything!” (Clearly embarrassed)
While all this drama ensued, Priyanka was conveniently talking on the phone. Not just talking but smiling and giggling.
Nupur was convinced it was Shahid Kapoor. I didn’t care. The air-hostess obviously cared! She requested Priyanka to switch off her phone. The request was ignored. The same instruction was repeated as the safety procedures were explained and the craft started taxing towards the runway. Special request to Priyanka which again was greeted with more giggling into the phone. Flight ready to take off and Priyanka was asked again to switch off her phone; she replied haughtily-“ I am trying to!”. Some more giggling and eventually she obliged.
Seat belts were fastened, peace descended in the cabin, the craft picked up speed and we were on our way to Bangkok. The Star-Experience had been phenomenal. Attitude was on display to the hilt. Are all the stars the same? Disregard for common rules and regulations? Air of superiority just because millions adore them? If yes then I totally pity them!
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