‘I feel I can still win’ Federer
The US-Open draw shows 128 players who withstood the test of the year long professional circuit and proved themselves eligible for the last Grand Slam of the year. Unfortunately up to now the big story is the rain.
The first three days have seen 28 match postponements. Some big names are absent from the draw and others in it are optimistic. Who will win? Marion Bartoli of France after winning 2013 Wimbledon final said, ‘sport story cannot be written before it is over’. She is
Roger Federer - pic Reuters
right, especially in Tennis, where there are no certainties. However good a player may be, every point will have to be worked out where only skill and labour will decide the outcome. Federer seems to have an unusual but lucky a number next to him. He is seeded 7. He has not been placed so low for years. But he is optimistic. He said that he is playing for the love of the game and not so much for others. His display of the game of Tennis will be remembered as fantastic, mesmerizing and unique. I find it easy to accept that his efforts to be a ‘labour of love’. So his love of the game must be true. He attracted spectators who were not into Tennis. He expressed Tennis in the most attractive way. Federer along with Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have won 33 of the last 34 majors. So Federer’s optimism has good grounds.
The Coach issue
Maria Sharapova decided not to play US Open because of the shoulder problem. ‘Coach’ problem can be also added to it. She hired the mighty Jimmy Connors as the coach and fired him after one match. I am not surprised. Federer hired Tony Roach of Australia as his coach when he went into a rut in the middle of his career. Much was expected from that combination, but all that was expected, did not happen. So they parted. Can a coach change a player? I have the experience of being both. If it is the last 5% that you need a coach’s guidance to be successful, a coach can make a difference. But to win, a player has to provide 95% and if that is not there, it is ‘Amen’.
In every coach’s career, there will be over 2000 players. Only about a number close to five will come into prominence. The others, around 1900 players will fade away unable to provide the 95% skill based labour that make an impressive win record. ‘Sugarpova’
Maria Sharapova has already set her sights on her post Tennis career plans. There is a talk that this Tennis beauty is going into confectionaries. Name of the brand – ‘Sugarpova’? Why not!
Renaissance of Nadal
The Spaniard has had more headlines about his injuries, defeats and withdrawals in the recent times than his wins. Nadal has changed that. He is enjoying ten to zero win record on hard courts. He said nobody around him thought he would come back. He did it. It is another example of player providing 95% and their ‘love for the game of Tennis’.
On the men’s side another veteran James Blake of US at the age of 33 announced his retirement. The US Open will be his last tournament. He is still there on the third day of the US Open.
Bigger winning base – Stosur
Australia’s strong and consistent, Samantha Stosur too lost in the opening round. Earlier she made an observation that is very true. She said “I think it’s fair to say that there are a bunch of players that are capable of winning Grand Slams and capable of doing great things out here. That hasn’t always been the case.” The winning base has got bigger now. Samantha Stosur won the US Open, a few years ago.
Armchair sports and ‘roof’ for tennis
The expression ‘armchair sportsmen’ was never used as praise in the past. Digital technologies with its capability to masquerade in many forms, has created ‘armchair sportsmen’ a fast growing breed. The digital platform can create anything and provide a better spectator version than those who buy a ticket into the grand stand. US-Open and other events provide the umpire’s version in real-time to see seated at home now. Every aspect of spectator interest is being enhanced with digital technology. Right now, ‘mother nature’ is proving to be stronger than all manmade inventions including digital technology. This year’s US open will be known for its rain altered schedules. Now they are looking for a ‘roof solution’ idea.
Hard courts came to being because of the ‘all-weather, no-maintenance’ advantage. In fact on hard court, even a slight drizzle or overnight dampness makes it dangerously slippery to play. What more, many have stopped playing Tennis because of the ill effects of the hard courts on the body joints especially the knees. So Tennis court design is back on the drawing board. The answer so far, is the roof. In fact this will increase court usage hours at all levels by about 50%. The best option in the tropics is covered clay courts. It will shelter against the hot sun and rain and without any ill effects many will return to Tennis.
<George Paldano, former international player; Accredited Coach of Germany, ITF and USPTR; National, Davis Cup and Federation Cup Coach – georgepaldano@yahoo.com>
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