Injury Bug

A blink of an eye is all it takes to see former No.1 Rafael Nadal fall from grace. It seemed like only a few hours ago that people in the tennis world were preparing parades and trophy presentations for the Spaniard. I won't lie, I am one of those people who thought Federer would not be comfortably sitting atop the tennis world while Nadal was around. Never would I have thought that Nadal would fall this hard to the injury bug.

At the young age of 23, Nadal has a chance to still recover and come back and dominate the sport for a few years, heck look at Roger and what he is doing with those 28 year old legs. This is what everyone talks about when it comes down to young athletes who seem to have infinite potential in the professional ranks, staying healthy is a skill. Some people have it and some don't.

If I was Nadal, I would seriously take as long as it takes to get back to 100% health before even trying to enter a future tournament. The risk of ruining your career because of forced attempts to get back on the court will only leave Nadal with ifs and should haves.

Weren't people saying Nadal had the chance to be the career grand slam record holder?

With a blink of an eye, six might be it.

Radek Who?

Anyone who watched the Novak Djokovic match against Radek Stepanek saw an impressive victory by Djokovic (6-1, 6-3, 6-3). I will agree with everyone up to that point. He had a great match and showed his great potential that people thought would carry him through or at least legitimately compete against Federer and Nadal.

After the match was completed and the ritual hand shake was finished, Djokovic called out John McEnroe from the booth to have some fun on Arthur Ashe Stadium. I wouldn't have anything to say if this was any other time except after a match Djokovic easily won.

Guy goes out and dismantles Radek Stepanek and has enough energy to play some extra tennis, on Arthur Ashe stadium, with former tennis star McEnroe. If I was Radek I would be pretty offended by the actions of Djokovic. He has enough energy and time to fool around, during a Grand Slam Event, after a match that is also the last match of the night. Bitch slapped!

Everyone is laughing and writing how funny and entertaining it was to see Djokovic back at the jokes but all I saw was an immature young 22 year old tennis player who has no respect for his opponent.

The whole thing would have been great for the game of tennis and the fans, if it was done at a more appropriate time.

15

What can I say, Roger Federer is the man. A total of 15 Grand Slams and counting.

I just can't get over the fact people were writing him off after losing a few Grand Slam final matches and not winning every other normal tournament. He was still reaching the final's and putting himself in position to win at Grand Slams.

Everyone seems to enjoy someone falling from grace. I find it kind of sad how people enjoy reading about people who have set the bar so high that when they eventually fall, they get joy from watching and reading it. I always had hope in Federer because his numbers proved otherwise. He wasn't the same old Roger we were once used to but he was still better than the majority of players out their on the court.

Nike Celebrates #15

Too bad Nadal wasn't there standing in his way. Think about this, Nadal might not be the "next one" due to health issues. Knee problems at such a young age can derail this young career before it truly blossoms. Just look at Nadal's game, it is based on running around trying to hit back everything that is thrown at him.

I predict Roger will reach that elusive 20 Grand Slam titles.

14 and Counting

**Apologies for the long absence from the world of On The Fence Sports. It seems life, work, and the books are all conspiring together to keep me away from posting.

The guy finally has achieved his goal of tying the unthinkable, 14 grand slams that Sampras achieved through his career. Congratulations are in order for Federer for, finally, winning the French Open. This story has been covered thoroughly through the world of sports but has anyone really talked about the "other side" of the story? What other side? Well, how about that famous guy who took his #1 spot from him, Nadal.

The whole 14 grand slams is a great story and I know Federer is satisfied with taking the title but if I was him I would still have a little feeling inside me, "do I really deserve this?" Just think about how many years and finals appearances where he finished behind Nadal at the French Open. Nadal is the real deal when it comes to the clay and if I was Federer I wouldn't feel complete unless I beat him at the French Open...finals, semis, or any match at the French.

Don't get me wrong, winning a grand slam is nothing to sneeze over but when it comes to the French Open, in my eyes, Federer needs to beat Nadal on the championship route to be considered a champion on clay. Just think about Nadal winning on grass at Wimbledon.

There is not much for me to say other than, he is the 2009 French Open champion and one grand slam away from breaking Sampras's grand slam record. There is an asterix beside the win at the French, not the same kind of asterix that should sit beside all the steroid abusers in baseball, because Federer lucked out and watched Nadal fall before reaching the finals.

Remember the Bulls before and after Jordan? The teams who took down the Bulls and won the NBA championships didn't really beat the Bulls.

Start of Something?

Roger Federer has finally defeated Nadal on clay. He's done it before but it just seems like a decade ago Federer was dominating the tennis circuit and hoisting a new trophy every other week.

The Swiss star won the Madrid Open by posting a 6-4, 6-4 score over rival Nadal. I've been reading this was a stunning victory and it seemed out of the blue that Federer ended up the winning side. Am I wrong but isn't Roger still ranked ummmm, like 2nd in the world?! I guess people are really starting to write off Federer since there are so many young guns out there (Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic). Why are you going to write off a guy who still finds a way to get himself to the finals but ends up taking home a runner-up cheque. Yes, he's being defeated by Nadal in the finals but this isn't a number 1 seed playing a number 319 in the world. This is 1 versus 2.

Why is Hilary Swank giving out keys?

I am a little disappointed in the writers around the internet, I'm looking straight at you ESPN.com and Yahoo!. These writers seem to think a few bad tournaments and a couple of finals losses is the end of Roger. I understand Federer is not going to dominate the circuit like he once did but I still believe Federer has 1-3 more majors in him before his career is finished.

His ability to take control on grass and also on hard courts, which make up 75% of the majors, gives him a great chance to take over Pistol Pete's position at the top.

For all you haters out there, he's still ranked #2 in the world so show him some respect. Until he starts losing in the 1st/2nd round consistently, lay off the he's washed up stories. He isn't going to win 15 titles, including 3 majors, in a year but isn't winning one major a year an accomplishment in itself?

Mind over Matter

Time to regroup and find a way to hoist another trophy. This is what Roger Federer must be thinking after another loss to Andy Murray of Britain in Indian Wells, California. It seems Andy has an inside source on Federer after winning his 6th match against Federer out of 8 career matches.

I honestly don't know what to think about Roger at this point in time. At the start of the season I thought he would take the Australian Open with force to tie Sampras for the all-time grand slam mark but it was derailed by none other than his nemesis Nadal. After losing his #1 ranking to Nadal last year, it seemed Roger had a chip on his shoulder and something to prove in 2009 but it seems to be moving backwards, sideways at best. Some may point to his 6 week rest, to recoup from a back injury, as the reason for his loss to Andy but I am starting to doubt that. It seems there is something going on behind the eyes and in the heart of one of the greatest tennis players to play the game.

After winning every tournament he entered it just seemed to easy. Once a champion is challenged and is stripped of his crown what happens next is what proves to the world how great a champion he truly was and is. Every time Roger leaves the court with a loss it seems the only thing that is reported is the fact he was injured, sick, his oppoenent played flawlessly, or Federer just had a bad day on the court. I think there is more to the story than what is reported and what is spewed from Federer's mouth.

Remember the days when Chuck Knoblauch suddenly starting throwing the ball 20-30ft over the first basemans head, he was tossing it from the 2nd base position! It wasn't anything physical but something in the mind. This is what I am thinking about Roger. After losing his title as the greatest tennis player and having people question his ability to regain the #1 spot and with the pressure of being so close to the career grand slam record, I think his mind is playing tricks on him.

The more I see Roger in tournaments the more I think of someone who is struggling with his confidence, his ability to will himself on the court to drop the volley, hit the running forehand winner down the line, and call up the ace when needed. How is a human suppose to succeed when he/she doesn't even believe they themselves can do it. When everyone around you is starting to question your ability, your mind will most likely follow and begin the tricks that have plagued past greats.

I hope this isn't the case and Roger is able to find a new way to win tournaments and bring home the career grand slam, even if it means taking it away from one of my favourite tennis players of all time, Pistol Pete. But heck, records were made to be broken.

No matter what anyone tells you Roger, the mind is stronger than the body.

I Truly Believed

This hurts not only for Roger but for me as well. Seeing the results of the Aussie Open final was a shock to my eyes because I honestly believed Roger was going to take the Aussie Final from Nadal after losing his position at the top of the tennis world in 2008. I truly believed he was going to take the record away from Pistol Pete at Roland Garros. I truly believed.

The final was another epic battle between the two tennis heavyweights and will go down in history as a match that may have changed the landscape of tennis forever. Nadal is 22 and is holding his 6th grand slam event. We are all fascinated with Federer taking the grand slam title from Sampras but even if Federer does break the record how long is he going to hold the record for. The left handed Spaniard is racking up the grand slams at a record pace and if he continues his dominating play at the French Open and more importantly stays healthy, he could potentially end up with 20 career grand slam titles.

The first grand slam of 2009 is over but luckily for tennis fans around the world there are still 3 more to go. I hope Federer turns things around from now until the clay court season begins because he is going to need to bring his A-game if he is going to take Roland Garros by storm.

Federer is going to have to battle the mental images of the undefeatable Nadal because if he doesn't, career grand slam title number 14 and maybe 15 may never come.

Game Time

"Time for Battle"

Australian Open Final. Nadal vs. Federer. Great way to start the 2009 tennis season.

Tennis Anyone?

Looking at the calendar and the last thing on any sports fan's mind is tennis but the 2009 season is almost here. It seems like yesterday that the tennis season ended but for me I tend to turn away from tennis right after the conclusion of the US Open in Flushing Meadows New York. This year, after Federer won, I completely drifted away from tennis and the "minor" tournaments that occurred after Labour Day weekend.

But this year it seems that there will be plenty of action and questions to be answered. At this point last year we all thought it was Federer who was going to come and take over the career Grand Slam title away from Pete Sampras but it turned out that Roger was human after all. Losing in his first three Grand Slams Federer was thought to be in his twilight of his career until his run at the US Open.

This time around there are more story lines than just Roger and his pursuit Grand Slam immortality. We have a new #1 in Nadal, we have young guns Djokovic, Murray, and of course the unpredictable American Andy Roddick. All these guys bring a true sense of competition to the table and I am glad they are here. It is nice to see Roger win, I have enjoyed his success, but at times it just seems too easy and this bores me. Watching guys slug it out for 3-4hours through 5 set matches filled with tie-breakers is what entertains me and what all fans should be rooting for. This is excitement, this is where tennis players show us who they really are, and most importantly this is where the fans sit on the edge of their seats or stay glued to their screens. This is how the game will grow it's audience and bring new faces to the game of tennis.

I think tennis needs a season filled with multiple winners and fierce battles that last longer than straight set championship wins. With Nadal and the young guns trying to take the spotlight from Federer. I want to see Federer come back and prove his age isn't catching up on him and show the world he is ready to take what was once his, the thrown of tennis.

Not only will this competition bring me back to tennis it will bring new fans and reinvigorate fans, like myself, who have drifted away from the game because of the lack of surprise and lack of excitement.

January 5th, Qatar Open, the season begins.


Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.

Time to Rest

Roger Federer was eliminated from the ATP Masters Cup which closes out the 2008 tennis season. What was a poor season for Federer it did not end the way he wanted it to.

I thought he would overcome the sore back and find a way to win the Masters Cup and finish the year with an exclamation mark, "Wait for 2009 boys!"

When the 2009 season begins I have a feeling Federer is going to try and make a point to reclaim his #1 position from Nadal. Just wait for the 2009 Australian Open in January.

Until then, make sure to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids, no need to have another case of mononucleosis to start the season.


Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.