Sunday, January 27, 2008

The unseeded Frenchman from Le Mans

When was the last grand slam final so engrossing? Federer-Nadal contests are almost folklore, but this one beats them all on just going by quality of tennis on display. The last contest that comes close can only be the US Open final few years back when Federer beat Agassi. As Vijay Amritraj and Alan Wilkins in the commentary box concede, they haven't seen the tennis ball being harder than it has been today,

Thanks JWF for such a wonderful Sunday. You may not win today, but you definitely belong here. Keep those volleys going, you remind me of pistol Pete when you play them. And don't let that smile vanish from your face! As for Novak, may you win many more.

The last time when neither Federer nor Nadal played in a Grand slam final was Aussie Open in 2005. And since then the tennis world has bowed to the greatness of one man, who has been pronounced the greatest ever by the pundits. And now, we see a new world order emerging.
There are two more reasons to watch tennis; and another one in Ana Ivanovic who went down to Sharapova yesterday. They have done almost all they could do to put Serbia on the world tennis map.

P.S. Novak wins it 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. The presenter rightly calls the contest 'Gladiatorial'.