There's a coup in the air and the
pretenders to the crown are sliding their feet in glee. None more so
than the man who currently wields the tennis racquet as a magic wand.
The wizardry has not borne fruit on the Parisian red dirt yet but each
passing year takes Nole that little bit closer to completing his
impeccable collection. Not many would stand against Novak's place among
the pantheon of greats but he certainly won't like to end up a la Lendl
who conquered everything but never bit the grass. With just a single
Argentine triumph at an ATP250 event, the emperor looks the most
vulnerable he has ever been in his remarkable career on his beloved
surface. A tenth title at Roland Garros is certain to provide the much
needed fillip Rafael Nadal needs to jump start his lack luster return
after getting that troublesome appendix removed. Losses to the Italian
Fognini and the humbling he had to face against the blissfully married
Murray on his home turf would certainly put a dent in the indomitable
Mallorcan's confidence. Having dropped out of the top 5 in the rankings
is not going to make the draw any easier and an early meeting with
either the world number one or Murray is a real possibility. The normal
whipped forehand has proved troublesome and the movement far from the
tip toeing we are accustomed to. Whether its just rustiness or a
physical niggle lingers is anybody's guess but the second grand slam of
the year may see a seismic shift in the balance of power in men's tennis
this year. Novak has been swamping aside anything that has come his way
and with the Aussie open already under his belt and an ATP1000 title at
his current home in Monte Carlo, a career grand slam should dominate
the Serb's dreams. In Boris, he has someone who carries the burden of
not having taken the clay home. While the German may not be able to tell
him how to win the holy grail but he can surely let him know how not to
lose. Andy Murray has been climbing back at the same rate as Rafa has
been sliding and his form makes him a good bet to go all the way. If he
can turn marital bliss into that calming influence, he could be the man
to throw the spanner in the works of the firm of Djokovic and Nadal.
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| One more? |
Serena
starts a firm favorite in any tournament she plays. Her contemporaries
have long disappeared either into domestic duties or slipped into the
stream of time. She, however stands tall bearing the torch of a
generation most teens today wouldn't identify with. What they certainly
would be acquainted to is the Canadian Eugenie Bouchard. While she has
been able to scorch the courts with her looks and play, her cabinet does
not boast of a grand slam title yet. She has Simona Halep for company
when it comes to boasting stakes and the Romanian would like desperately
to get her name on the Suzanne Lenglen trophy. Maria Sharapova may be
the defending champion but she may find it a tad difficult to defend her
title with the years on the roll. But the lady who once described her
play on clay akin to "a cow on ice" may still have a few tricks up her
sleeve to surprise. A scintillating fortnight awaits with a hegemony on
the line and history in the waiting. Bon Apetit.
Steven
Gerrard says good bye to Anfield today against Crystal Palace. His has
been a career that legends are made of. Its hard to see players today
sticking to a club for as long as he has and while he may be past his
glory days, the Liverpool faithful will miss the spark he provided. The
high point of his stay has to be the incredulous come from behind win at
the Champions League final against Milan at Istanbul. in 2005. After
trailing by 3 goals at half time, a Gerrard inspired reds turned the
tables on the fabled Maldini's team. The low has to be not winning the
league even once over his 17 year stay at the Merseyside. Another grudge
would be to have been part of some underwhelming performances at the
world cup manning the famous midfield along side Frank Lampard and David
Beckham. All in all, Steven Gerrard played with distinction and his
inclination to return back to where he started, possibly in a coaching
role would be well received by the club. As always, you will never walk
alone.