Pete,
Did they play the match on Court 7? If so, how did it go. Besides Andre, a lot of people wants Roger to complete the career Slam tomorrow except for the Robin Soderling camp and his supporters

MA - they just hit a few balls around on Ct. 7 as I understand it. I didn't attend, just went to the presser and said hi to Steffi and Andre quickly after it was over.

on this note, finally someone writes what so often Fed fans think: it's the liberal media bias thats out to get FEderer send him into retirement, the funny farm and turn every loss into a national crisis...

some quick reading/badly needed perspective...sorry dont know the short link trick

http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2009/06/04/THESPORTSDOC-Federer-0822.aspx

Adorableness! I do love Grafassi so much. Thanks, Pete.

and the lack of regrets thing is lovely - how many players can genuinely say that, I wonder?

Hee...Rafa is beautifully freakish, just another reason to adore him. ;-)

"and Roger having been the best clay-courter in the last five years"

I am Fed fan but have to disagree with Andre...the best clay-courter is Rafael Nadal aka the freak of nature.

Steffi does look very nice and happy...*misses the days she used to play*

isn't it meant to be liberal *fascist* media?

Steffi is watching the final, and she looks beautiful, nice highlights. :)

I think Pete must have omitted the word 'second' before 'best clay courter...'

Ah...Or...yeah, that certainly makes more sense.

Maybe a mistake.

"Roger having been the best clay courter in the last five years"?
"freak of nature from Mallorca"?

hearing that from a man I have respected and admired about my favorite player is heart breaking. heart breaking.

just a couple weeks ago Andre was saying that he thought Rafa had a real...awe forget it...its just not worth it.

I'll just leave it with i'm very disappointed that Andre would disrespect Rafael Nadal and further fuel the antiNadal sentiment that permiates Paris.

With you on all that, Jewell
PS thanks, Pete.

pete - are you going to write a piece on the roger-del potro match? did i miss your post?

Andre is a bandwagoner pure and simple. A few weeks ago he was on the "Rafa is going to win the CYGS", now he's dumped him like a drunken girlfriend. No need to pay much attention to the baldy.

rudy3, I hear you. Every1 is given to hyperbole in these sorta situations. Just wait till Rafa wins Wimbledon, and the reverse will start again. Btw, you did read the articles about Federer post Australia, right? Dead and buried sorta thing?

@ tim, ny magazine? tennis magazine? liberal? huh?

i just want a good match today on the women's side. 1 set done and it's only so-so thus far.

tomorrow. to see another grand slam final with federer - amazing! mind-boggling!

pete, speak out against nbc. show some guts!

One of my nicknames for Rafa is "beautiful freakish man-child". *shrug*

I think Pete made clear that Andre thought of freak of nature as a compliment and wanted to be certain it was reported that way.

And I agree with Or's take on the best clay-courter thing. Or maybe Andre forgot to say "apart from Rafa". Or something. ;-)

So Rafa's the "freak of nature" because he's the sole reason Federer hasn't won the French Open yet? That's not very nice. I realise Andre was using that term in good way but still, I don't hear anyone calling Federer a "freak of nature" because he's so dominant on grass.

Anyway, I have no doubts Federer will win tomorrow. He's been to three finals already, and has worked extremely hard for this title. Surely everyone agrees, if Nadal isn't able to defend the crown this year, then Federer deserves to take it.

jewell, he prolly meant best "human". Although, I side with Pete (Bodo) on that issue, i.e., Fed is a robot. So, basically, Alien vs Robot, has been the rivalry in tennis. It seems like both have been on a humanization program. The Robot now has sweat glands and grunts on occasion, while the Alien has covered up his biceps to mask the real size.

LOL, Pspace...surely that was a movie?

Let's not forget the part where the Robot learns human emotions, too, LOL...or the possibility of Terminator/Universal Soldier (apologies for my terrible taste in action films, btw) throwing Robot for a loop tomorrow.

I would like to see Federer win, but he'll deserve it by winning tomorrow, not for anything he's done in the past, imo.

I dunno, jewell. There was Alien vs Predator. However, if you're an Asimov fan, do you think it's a coincidence that his name is R. Federer?

"do you think it's a coincidence that his name is R. Federer?"

LOL Pspace...:-)

Though,I imagine R.F. more as an alien and R.N. more as a terminator.

Why do they give so much attention to these people like JMac and Agassi , were'nt they the ones who were writing Roger off a few months ago? Now Nadal is a freak of nature and he loses one match and Fed is the best clay courter??

Talk about fair weather friends!!

that's nice of agassi,but roger will have to earn it and it won't be easy.

Sorry, I clearly forgot to write "second" best clay=courter, but it's changed now, and Rudy3, you must really be hurting to be so offended on Rafa's behalf. He really meant it as a compliment, the way you'd use it to describe Michael Jordan. I wrote my last line just to make that clear. . . Anyway. . . And sorry, whoever it was who asked, but I did not write a post on the second men's semi, but I will be doing a preview for ESPN for the men's final and unless this women;s final gets real good, real quick, maybe I'll write a men's story for today, too.

And just to be perfectly clear, Andre said second-best claycourter, I just wanted to get post up quickly. . .

and hopefully roger will play better tomorrow than he did last year.

Pete, you now have it has "second-best best claycourter". Make up your mind, will ya? ;-)

Andre Agassi has enormous respect for Rafael Nadal AND Roger Federer. I dont think that is a contradiction. Agassi, more than anyone, is honest with himself - especially since he knows his own playing record - he lost something like 13 matches in a row against both from November 2003 to his retirement in 2006. Sure there are times when Agassi has said some things that were not accurate, but he has had what, a million opportunities to say something out there, and more than others he has been one of the greatest spokesmen for tennis itself! Agassi is an icon who will be the first to admit his flaws, and I think he absolutely admires Nadal and Federer. He says as much every time.

So he makes one slip up and says Federer is best clay courter of the last five years - maybe because to Agassi, Nadal is "out of this world" - unbelievable on clay. One need look no further than Agassi's transcript after playing Nadal at his last event at Wimbledon, to see the respect he has for Nadal and what he's accomplished. Agassi also HEDGED on Nadal winning the CYGS - he said it "could happen" and "this would be a real possibility" - now it's not, but who cares? He didnt say "it will happen" etc. So now that the world's changed and Nadal is out, Agassi says wow, this could really be Federer's tournament. I'm sure that if Soderling wins, Agassi will shake his hand too.

Agassi on Nadal (he even, in 2006, predicted that Nadal could/would win Wimbledon - this was before Nadal had made his first, second or third Wimbledon final:
"His movement is just out of this world."
"Q. Having played him now, what do you make of him on this surface?
ANDRE AGASSI: ...But his movement translates to every surface. There's no question about that. I think he's the best mover that's out there, you know. He just seems to really explode and anticipate and all of the above, and do a lot with the ball. So, you know, grass is a shot-making court. And if he's making guys feel like they can't hit winners out there on grass, that speaks to his presence out there. You know, you leave a lot of room for a champion's heart and mind, and he can certainly be here with high expectations."

Q. When you walked off the court for the last time with Nadal, do you take any comfort in that it's someone like him that, you know, maybe is a symbolic baton passing as opposed to somebody else?
ANDRE AGASSI: I don't think I have that sort of poetic side to me really, you know. I would have been proud to shake the hand of anybody that beat me, really. Maybe a little bit more him just because of how I've admired him grow as a player. I've seen him since he's been pretty young out there. I've seen him improve. I've admired this record that I never thought would get beaten, Vilas' wins on clay, the way he's gone after Roger in all their battles. You know, there's just a lot to respect about the guy. Then when you get out there and feel his game, you can only tip your hat to it.

Q. It's reasonable to believe that he's going to get even better on grass as he plays more and more on it. Is it too early to think what a lot of people might have thought was unthinkable before this tournament, that he could actually challenge Roger Federer on a grass court?
ANDRE AGASSI: How do you say he couldn't, or anybody really at that matter? I mean, listen, we all marvel at what Roger has done, there's no question, none more than me. I watch him play and have an appreciation for it from not just the stands but also the best seat in the house, which is the other side of the net. So I've admired it and all that. But, you know, if tennis was as easy as phoning in the results, you know, I would have just called in a win today against Nadal, you know. Just doesn't happen that way. You have to come out; you have to do it. That's one thing that I keep speaking to in competition, you know. The competitor's heart and mind leave a lot of room for a lot of things that we might think is crazy to happen.

================
from CNN:
Former star Andre Agassi picks Rafael Nadal to potentially win "Grand Slam"
By Mike Steere, For CNN

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Former world tennis number one Andre Agassi is picking Rafael Nadal as a huge chance of completing a rare "Grand Slam" by claiming all four major singles tournaments this year.

Speaking ahead of the French Open which begins at Roland Garros in Paris this weekend, Agassi tipped Nadal as the best chance to become the third ever male player to complete the Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open all in the same year.

Nadal has already won the Australian Open this season and heads to Roland Garros looking for his fifth consecutive French Open title.

"It wouldn't shock me to see him (Nadal) pull off the unthinkable.

"I think this is the first time in a long time that we are going to have an opportunity to see somebody maybe pull that off," Agassi said.

"If Nadal returns his usual result at the French Open and then comes here (Wimbledon) with confidence and puts together a great two weeks, I think we could be looking at him in New York with a chance of pulling off the unthinkable. I didn't think I would ever see it."

"You have to respect him. Whether you're a fan -- he always gives time; whether you're a journalist -- he always makes time for media; or whether you're a peer, he never makes excuses when he loses."

jewell: yeah, freak of nature is a compliment just like heavenly creature.

well tomorrow's match will be intense and emotional. robin going for his first slam which is mementous and roger going for the career slam. should be a great match.

Wouldnt you know it - the translator messed up. HERE IS THE FULL QUOTE. How about that...Agassi actually got it right with regards to Federer as the 2nd best clay courter (the "freak of nature" part is omitted here, and was said, but as Mr. Bodo and Agassi himself noted, it IS a compliment to Nadal, not a detractor. Agassi, mind you, was a competitor of Nadal, and in his own transcripts from his playing days, noted how much he respects Nadal. More than Nadal himself, Agassi saw the possibility of Nadal winning wimbledon, even before Nadal made his first final. HOW ABOUT THAT.

Hats off to Agassi.

"Tomorrow there's a chance to see history and I think Roger being the second best clay courter over the last five years, earning a spot in the final four different times, deserves this more than I did. "
==============================================================
"Tomorrow there's a chance to see history and I think Roger being the second best clay courter over the last five years, earning a spot in the final four different times, deserves this more than I did.

(Yes, everyone can now apologize to Mr. Bodo and to Andre Agassi).

It ends the discussion of where he fits in the history of the game," the American said during a visit to Roland Garros with his wife Steffi Graf.

"If it wasn't for (four-times champion Rafael) Nadal, he probably would have won a handful of these things. So nobody would underestimate where he deserves to fit in this game.

"This is going to mean so much to him, to have that hole filled. It's something he's going to earn tomorrow and I think it will change his life."

If Federer completes the feat, he will join Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Agassi as the men who have won all four majors. It will also give Federer a record-equalling 14th grand slam crown, putting him level with Pete Sampras.
Agassi said winning the Musketeers' Cup in 1999 defined his life, even though he won seven other major trophies during his career.

"It changed my career and as result my life," he said. "It's probably the most profound moment in my career, getting over obstacles and doubts I had coming to win here," said Agassi, who was beaten in two finals before he completed his collection.

"Tomorrow there's a chance to see history and I think Roger being the second best clay courter over the last five years, earning a spot in the final four different times, deserves this more than I did.

"It would be privilege for the game to see history being made and in some ways it feels like destiny for him and it's going to be pretty exciting.

"He's extraordinarily talented and talk about grace on court, watching him play is something special to see and if he does it tomorrow, he'll know what an accomplishment it was."

Rudy - just read the post properly before you post emotional drivel. Freak of Nature is a compliment (as was explained at the bottom of the article). Obviously to call Federer the best clay court player of the last five years is nonsense but it one typo may be responsible for that - anyhow no point getting all upset about an off the cuff interview given by an ex sportsman who is just trying to be polite about a former rival.

As for anti Nadal sentiment, what do you expect. He has dominated clay as no else has in history (though I suspect Borg didn't really try too hard in the warm ups for the French post 1976) and people being what they are root for the underdog, in this case anyone who plays Nadal on clay. Also anyone with a sense of history would like to see the most artistic player of the Open Era achieve a great career goal. I am sure the tennis public will root for Nadal if he reaches the US Open final.

Sorry for the sour note here, but it is very disrespectful to Soderling to treat this final as a formality for Federer. Everyone seems to have conveniently forgotten that it was Soderling who so far has had the greatest accomplishment this tournament. I know he is not liked, but this is just plain disrespectful. This is his first final and he has an uphill battle, but if by the grace of God he were to win, it would be no less deserved than if Federer wins it.

Please, let us just wait 24 hours before the coronation.

Chill out, Rafa fans (or rather, the tiny percentage of you who are over-reacting to what Andre did and DIDN'T say). As Pete explained, it was his own typo about "best clay courter." Andre said "second-best."

As for "freak of nature," didn't we have this whole discussion last week or something? Of course Nadal is a freak of nature. So is Federer, Borg, McEnroe, Evert, Martina, etc. Andre obviously meant it as a compliment and even said as much.

I'll even say that there is something a bit more obviously "freakish" about Nadal (from the massive topspin and playing with his non-dominant hand, to the huge muscles, to the astounding ability to play every point with such intensity). I love this about Rafa and it's one of the reasons I love watching him play. The dude blows my mind with some of the shots he pulls off and that ridiculous focus.

So relax. No matter what happens tomorrow, Rafa is still the #1 player in the world, the defending champion of the Wimbledon and the AO, and, most importantly, still clearly the BEST player in the world right now. If imagined slights overcome all that for you, you're pretty sad fans.

MD, word @10:56am
No doubt it will be another historial moment to treasure for Rafa if he reaches the final of US open. Hopefully, more cheers for him vs the match vs. Soldering this year. As a fan, I still is trying to get over his loss. This year's French Open is NOT the same without thee.

Wow, this was one annoying thread to labor through. Sounds like children arguing about who's dad can beat up who's dad. People are reading too much into this shit.

Well said, TB.

Pspace @10:03. *wiping away tears of laughter.

Let's all go easy on each other - As a fan of Rafa, I can see how it's a bit of a trying time. It's sports. Passion comes with the territory. Thanks Pete for being good to us.

All

please lay off berating other posters for their reactions to an uncorrected quote.

there's an error in agassi's statement in pete's post: earning a spot in the final four (not three) times in a row.

"freak of nature"
I don't think Agassi means in a disrespect way.

Go Roger!

Christopher, *sigh* why bother? But thanks for trying.

Grand Slam final weekend - everyone is suffering from the tennis fan version of hormonal overload. All wild and angry posting outbursts should be forgiven through Wednesday at least.

From the "Tennis Has a Steroid Problem" website regarding Rafa's "injury":
"...it should be noted that he might be less likely to be drug tested if he skips this tournament. Anyway, you have to admit that his whining about drug testing, coinciding with his losing 2 on clay and a claim of an injury that puts him out of a tournament where he would likely be drug tested has to at least make for the possibility that he is dropping out of it to avoid drug testing."

No need to clarify the "freak of nature" statement Pete. This is not something we haven't heard before. Most "elders" of the game dismiss Rafa as just as an "animal", "brutish", etc. Whatever it's just old now. Rafa's fan demographic is probably little kids, girls my age, and Spain. So the dismissive comments from Sampras-he's never really given Rafa his due in any of his comments untill he ABSOLUTELY had no choice but to- like after Australia for example.
I don't know maybe I'm being over-sensitive. It's not that Rafa lost (watching the Solderling match i just had an "inevitable" feeling about it). It's the fact that the crowd really cheered AGAINST Rafa is what was sad...and surprising. But their reaction probably sums up most "pure tennis fans"...with the exception of the little kids, teenage girls, and Spain ofcourse.

Re Roger: Yep, it does feel like "a date with destiny" type of thing.

Andre has been super respectful of both Roger and Rafa all along! He's not changed "bandwagons" as another poster wrote. He just believed, as many of us did, that Rafa could have achieved something special this year. Of course, after Miami, I had the seed of doubt planted that Rafa was distracted (especially after the hints by Pete of trouble in paradise).

One of the happiest days of my life as a tennis fan was when Andre won the French Open and completed the career slam. He shut a lot of people up that day! Even now, there are still those who say that Dre could have won more titles if only he "hadn't..." fill in the blank. But hey, only one man right now has all four slams on different surfaces, and an Olympic gold medal! He did it all as a tennis player. The only woman to old them all (in one year for her) plus the gold is his wife. Life is beautiful.

Steffi looks better at 39 moving into 40 than she's ever looked since she's been a public person (and Andre still ain't too bad either!). She's so relaxed and so totally at peace and so open (Pete -- time to approach her about that autobio!!!! ;)!!!). She and Andre look good as a team, but more importantly have some goals together that I greatly admire -- her foundation benefiting children emotionally scarred by war and family violence, and Dre's school plus his Boys and Girls Club, and Athletes for Hope, etc.

If you're a Grafassi fan, as I am, here's a recent and nice interview with them about their 1999 FO wins:

http://tennis-atp.blogspot.com/2009/06/french-open-video-agassi-graf-10-year.html

[Deleted - you were told above to lay off and why - moderator]

could Carillo and Mac be any more anti Fed in this commentary? its like Del Po gifted him the match, its nothing but what he didnt do, how he let up, blah blah, definitely cant watch the final with them blabbing, its really over the top... one more day please let this be a happy ending for Rog

has anyone wathced Nadal in the last year or five?

he IS a freak of nature!

i still say del Po hist just as hard as Soderling, he is hitting rockets out there! great preparation for Fed for the final, anyway...

they need to replace mary and john, awful commentators.

Christopher - hope the recuperation is going well!! I'm happy to see you back and haven't had a chance to say so;)). Enjoy the tennis!

Pete - thanks for this; love the both of them! I know it's your job but I must say I don't know how you write day in and day out so many varied pieces on this sport we love! Thank you for expanding my love of the game and thanks also for all the work you and your team (Rosangel, Andrew, ptenisnet (sp?), etc.) do to keep this site up and running.

jan

Yes, thank heavens some Fed fans never overreact to anything. :)

I can hardly wait till Pete's next post on Roger when they take his head off. :)

Tim: will you stop this shenanigans...the Fed is a total has been, I remember last year when the world was telling the Fed to retire, even Borg...unfreakingbelievable...thankfully the Fed is stubborn as hail...

Delpo was hitting over 100 m/hr FHs, if that isn't hitting with pace, I don't know what is...

Thanks, Just a Note! Feeling good. And it's a good think it was back surgery, not something involving the heart. Otherwise Roger would have killed me by now!

Tim - that was an interesting article. thaks. I agree with much of what was written and have been thinking the same things myself off an on and not just vis a vi this year's FO. But I do think the author missed one rather important point...the age factor. I think it is natural and usually realistic to assume that a younger player simply has more time to recover from a bad GS loss. So I think that was a large factor as to why the press did not come down as hard on Rafa after his loss than they might have had the same thing happened Fed.

And I'm sure Pete just left out the 'second' before 'best clay court player.' The best clay court player of his and several other generations is Rafa Nadal. And jeeze, didn't people read to the end of this piece to see how careful Andre was in calling Rafa a "freak of nature" - that it be taken in a POSITIVE way.

Steffi looked Soooooo relaxed and happy in that Wimby ceremony it was great to see.

Pete what a lovely post and Steffi looks fantastic and happy.

Christopher glad to hear that you are feeling good after your back surgery.

Andre didnt say anything all that offensive to anybody, and sure nothing that should crate so much controversy. He has praised Nadal A LOT in the past (including the comments about the Calendar GS) and the "freak of nature" thing is said in a positive way. Because he is, in fact, a frak of nature. As is Rog. As was Andre himself. To achieve what those guys have done, you must be special. And about the comments about Fed, he says the truth: he's been the 2nd best clay-courter for four years, he has been stopped time after time by Nadal, and he has kept coming back. And now he has his chance and it would certainly be historic if he could do it.
Personally, vey hàppy that Andre, who was my favourite before Nadal, agrees with what i've been saying the whole week. It's just destiny.
Oh, and Fed is more like the Asimov robots to me. Nadal, without a doubt, is terminator. And if they were aliens, Nadal would certainly be predator, but Fed, i dont know...ET?:)

sherlock - pffft! Haven't you realized by now that ALL Fed fans are models of calm and rational perspective and thoughtful discourse.

jeejee

Also, it's true that Fed deserves it more than Andre did. He has been more persistent and more stubborn about it (we all know the guy is pretty stubborn)
Oh, and Steffi looks very nice

I've never seen Federer fans as off kilter (but at the same time aggressive) after a loss as Nadal fans are now...I wonder why that is? Sherlock? Any suggestions?

Agassi is also a freak of nature!

Hmm..that's my one disagreement with Andre's statement. I don't think any player DESERVES a win any more or any less than another player. The player who wins deserves it. Because for better and worse, that IS sports....its not a situation where the nicest person, the hardest worker, the most tough luck story, or even the most talent, always gets the brass ring. And it certainly isn't a moral contest. So 'deserve' doesn't really come into it.

Mind you, I am pulling like hail for Fed to come out on top tomorrow but the truth is he has to go out there and beat a player who is having the tournament of his life and earn that victory. And his back story, previous slams, hard work, close calls, etc, won't meant diddly. Only each and every shot; one point, one game, one set, at a time will count.

Syd - maybe because we drink more? lol. And actually, to be fair, Fed has HAD more losses over the last 18 months than Rafa so Fed fans have had more practice, alas.

And FWIW, I don't think most Rafa fans have been especially aggressive. Off kilter maybe, a bit stunned maybe, but not aggressive.

CL;

True. We've had a lot of experience.

Posted by CL 06/06/2009 @ 11:59 AM

Hmm..that's my one disagreement with Andre's statement. I don't think any player DESERVES a win any more or any less than another player. The player who wins deserves it.
----------------

Thank you CL for writing this! I wrote the same a few days ago or so on another thread.

If and when Roger wins the FO (and I've no doubt he will complete the career slam) -- he's earned it. Andre had to sweat blood and tears plus suffer the hateful slings and arrows of nasty and doubting pundits before he completed his career slam. I can't imagine what would have been said by fans of the game about Dre had the internet been more prevalent back then...

Some stat from ESPN:

"Federer is 111-0 versus players outside the top five since his run to 20 straight Grand Slam semifinals began."

But as CL says, it will all depend on each and every shot played tomorrow.

Well, if I were in rudy3's shoes, I might have felt a bit miffed reading the uncorrected post. Pete corrected it once he saw the error, so hopefully that's an end of it.

Speaking as a completely unreconstructed Federer fan, I have nothing but admiration for Nadal's tennis skill, play, sportsmanship, acumen, fitness, mental toughness, tactical awareness and all the other attributes that go into being one of the great players of the Open Era.

I wish him a speedy and long term recovery from the knee issue that has caused him to take a pss on Queen's, just as I'm sure that Nadal's fans wished Federer a full recovery from the back niggles that affected him at the start of this year.

I honestly believe it's the case that Pete, Steve and other commentators, plus the players who have played at a Grand Slam level, also fully appreciate what an extraordinary player Nadal is. "Freak of nature" isn't a term that Brits use, but the three most important aspects of his game, I think, are his movement, the unique style he has playing left handed as a right hander, and his fantastic ability to play with intensity on every point - but to raise this intensity on big points, especially match points.

Watching in the stands at IW 2009 in R16 vs Nalbandian was quite an experience.

I don't see any reason why Federer fans can't appreciate Nadal, or the reverse. We're lucky to be watching tennis at a time when two of the greats are in the same draw. Cheer for the one you choose, and applaud his rival as well.

Nice one, Pete, though the headline reminds me of a line from a movie you and I both like: "Deserve's got nothin' to do with it." I think that would be a good mantra for Roger to take into the final manana, and from his presser, I think that's where he is, mentally. I expect he will win it, and it'd be way cool to have Andre present him with the trophy, but as Johny Mac said yesterday, anybody who's playing as well as Soderling is right now is capable of beating... anybody.

ps The line is from Unforgiven...

I think I speak for all FedKADs when I say it would be foolish to not take Sod VERY seriously, and that the best man on the day ... taking into consideration all foreseeable mental and physical challenges, will be the winner and worthy of it ...

We just hope it winds up being Fed. ;)

Good one...Andrew @ 12.11

Btw...Pete has a new post at ESPN about "destiny is not alone enough for Roger Federer to win the FO"...its really good...

Hi guys

About the "Freak of Nature", I would like to know exactly how much "nature" lies in the "freaks" of today's tennis.

See this note:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/168404-marion-jones-should-have-played-tennis

Pete, it's true that a player who withdraws from a tournament is able to avoid drug tests? I know that this is an important issue to you, it's about time you write a piece updating this question.

I think federer is the best player EVER even if he does not win the french tomorrow!! purely because of his big match mentality. 20 grand slam semis in a row. and out of those he has 16 finals. its unbelieveable. nadal is a great player but i think he is now starting to see how difficult it is to be so consistent in slams as federer has done. especially in this era when you have so much talent out there like djokovic, andy murray, davydenko, marat safin, nalbandian, hewitt, gonzalez etc..

People were writing him off from 2008 australian open when he got beaten by novak in the semis. mainly andy murray, stating that federers level has not dropped, rather players around him have improved and no longer afraid to take him on. which is true may i add. But since then, he has reached french, wimbledon and australian open final losing to nadal, won the us open, and in the final again 2moro. that is a man that has provd to the world that he is the greatest player even when suffering the heart break of getting beaten in 3 finals. he still has that strong mentality to come back at the next slam.

Also if you actually look at the wimbledon and australian open finals, federers first serve percentage was below 55% and still took nadal to a fifth set. in australia it was in the 40s. At wimbledon if federer played the first two sets how he played the first the 3rd and 4th, he he would have still been the defening champion. he upped his levelin those two sets knowing that he had to and took both of them in tie breaks. nerves of steal. so it all depends on how roger plays. if he plays his best tennis then no one will beat him.

"I've never seen Federer fans as off kilter (but at the same time aggressive) after a loss as Nadal fans are now...I wonder why that is? Sherlock? Any suggestions? "

Syd, do you really believe that? Not sure what to say. Yes, there was no aggression after the last Wimbledon or Australian.

Fans are fans. There's no difference. That people think Fed fans are different from Rafa fans or Nole fans or Roddick fans, whatever, is one of the most bizarre notions to me.

CL, he he. Thanks. :)

Sherlock;
Yes, I do. It may be that Nadal has more fans than Federer here, and that's what I'm seeing.

May be a little different for NadalKADS, right now ... kind of like Fed getting beat early by someone outside the Top 10 at Wimby last year, and Rafa making it through to meet them in the final. Would not have been the same ... robbed of the opportunity to pass the torch ... officially, so to speak (or at least hold onto it for a year .. ;))

Urgh...I'm so nervous for tomorrow's match.

Come on Roger!

Thanks to Pete Bodo for correcting the article, it makes much more sense now , I guess some of us Rafa fans have been so devastated this last week that we are over reacting.

The news of his withdrawal has been difficult too. But I am very surprised at implications by some posters here that Rafa is avoiding drug testing by withdrawing. Surely, he was tested at the FO last week and multiple times this year before that.

Wouldn't it have shown up somewhere in his 8 years of professional tennis?

Syd, ok. See Mike's post at 12:33. Pretty much it in a nutshell.

Roger gets a French, and doesn't even have to beat Rafa to get it. Simple really. And the flipside is that Rafa has had to go through Roger for every bloody slam he's gotten.

As I've said before, when Roger loses in the 4th round of a slam, I want to see what the reaction is from Fed fans.

Sherlock,

"And the flipside is that Rafa has had to go through Roger for every bloody slam he's gotten."

I think that argument works in favor of Rafa, don't u think?

Either way, Roger is the "Gateway of slams" since 2004...nobody has won a GS without defeating Roger in a SF or F since 2004 Wimby and Rafa is no exception there.

Whatever happens tomorrow, the "gateway" streak is still alive.

Can't wait to see Andre on court tomorrow. What a special treat to see Steffi hand out the cup today and so happy for Sveta. Sad for Safina, but I like both of them so either way I thought there was a deserving champion today. It was so nice to see Sveta calm and focused - she absolutely deserved it! Yeah Sveta:)

Go Roger - one point at a time tomorrow.

Nice thoughts from Andre.

I am where Andre is and I don't like the term "freak of nature".

Rafa did not win because of his physical ability. Tsonga , koubek, Del Potro, many other players might be much stronger than him.

Rafa os a tennis talent. He is the world number one and needs to be acknowledged with respect. He has a name!

Sherlock: I think there are more Nadal fans active here at TW now than Federer fans. Goes with form, I think.

Nadal has been having a run for the ages - getting to 7500 ATP Ranking Points (in old money) which only one player previously has been able to do.

I have raised an eyebrow at the way some Nadal fans (trying not to lump) have responded to the RG 2009 R16 loss, given his recent successes. Didn't help, I guess, that it was Robin Soderling.

But then I remembered the way that Federer fans felt in early 2007 when Federer lost twice in a row to Canas - it felt wrong, as if the world had been turned upside down.

More recently, we've been getting good practice at coping with defeat, alas.

" when Roger loses in the 4th round of a slam, I want to see what the reaction is from Fed fans."

Heavy drinking? ;-)

I don't know if there is any "right" way to react to a loss. I think that there are many factors involved, and even among fans of the same player you will often see a variety of reactions to losses.

On the flipside ... as far as the supposed natural progression of things, Fed has been pretty much been labeled as over the hill ... and on his way down the other side. With Rafa starting to beat him on surfaces other than clay, Murray having his number soon after last year's USO ... and Djoko's recent successes ... it was thought that maybe we were starting to see the inevitable transition ...

Until Madrid and Roland Garros ... Fed threw a monkey wrench into the machinery by sticking around.

What I don't appreciate ... as a Fed fan, is how it sounds like it's Roger's fault that the rest of Top 4 have been a non issue the past 2 tournaments, and how he's 'lucky to be there'.

Oh, and please don't start with the Rafa-Nole match ups ... they honestly weren't all that they're being made out to be, seriously.

2 backboards doing a great job of running each other around the court ... and a lot of time wasted in between. Some great shots here and there ... no doubt, but far from 4 hours of riveting Tennis.

Sam, LOL! :)

Andrew, maybe so. Though I'd take a Masters loss any day over an early slam loss.

Oh, well.

Mike, sorry man. I certainly don't mean to make it sound that way. Not Roger's fault at all. Totally Rafa's, in the case of my guy. Just trying to explain my frustration. Probably impossible without ticking off someone.

Look people, the term "freak of nature" is used ALL THE TIME in sports and is MEANT AS A COMPLIMENT. For God's sake, what are some of you people, five years old? SportsCenter has longed called Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and LeBron James "freaks of nature." It means that someone is so incomparable, so unbelievably and supremely good at what they do that they seem almost inhuman, somehow just above the mental and physical foibles that plague the bodies and minds of mere average mortals like ourselves who could never dream of being a Roger Federer or Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods or Cal Ripkin, Jr.

Seriously, some of you Nadal fans are so absurd sometimes. Google the phrase "freak of nature sports," or something like that, and you will so how positively it is used all the time. In other words, when it comes to not being homers and thinking straight, Nadal fans are not "freaks of nature." Understand now?

Did I read a different post than all those whining about Agasi's disrespect to Nadal? If you have time to go back and read it again pay attention, and look carefully for this quote; "Roger having been the second-best best clay-courter in the last five years," Wow. Even on its own it seems to read as if Andre referd to Roger as " the second-best best clay-courter in the last five years," and theres one more quote worth mentioning: "And I ought to add that Andre stopped the translator when he was discussing to point out that where he comes from, "freak of nature" is a term of flattery." Will you Nadal fans please, please, explain how I missread this post? I am dyslecix, so perhaps, my mind is playing tricks on me. People help me out, for if I am seeing things that aren't there I must get to a doctor.

Sherlock: well, it was two Masters losses. And like Rosangel, it deprived me of a chance to see my idol (at IW - I had tickedts from the QF stage).

I'm mainly talking about the "world turned upside down" sense of things. I've been there.

It turned out that Rafa's knees were hurt!
So this loss does not count.

Again.

No Chris, you are right on. It's just that the Nadal fans are still in their rooms crying about Nadal losing to Le Sod and are being ridiculously touchy about everything. All things come to an end. Just as Federer lost Wimby, Nadal lost the French. Just as TMF has had to endure a year of people questioning, now Nadal has pulled out of Queen's and is seen as beatable by his peers. How you like dem apples, Rafa lovers?

"But then I remembered the way that Federer fans felt in early 2007 when Federer lost twice in a row to Canas - it felt wrong, as if the world had been turned upside down."

That is true Andrew; but it also felt like more of a fluke than something to be extremely worried and down about. The thrashing by Nadal at FO last year, and then Wimbledon and Oz in quick succession, were surely more depressing, than the fluke beating by Canas.

And that's how it appears to me re Nadal now vis a vis Soderling -it was a fluke, not something that will be repeated over and over and over again.

Sherlock, not a problem.

Rafa is my second favorite ... which makes it tough around GS time. ;)

I honestly feel extremely lucky ... as my 2 favorite players have pretty much owned the Mens game the last 5 years.

But ... having followed Pro Tennis since Connors was the big dog, I've had to see my favorites go out to pasture over the years. :(

One reason I love the Senior circuit ... great to see so many of them still active, staying competitive, and having fun. ;)

i guess chichen doesn't wind grand slam having said that. Serena is the number 1 after all.

i want to clarify myself a bit. i am no longer upset that Rafa lost, thats tennis. And i'm not worried about him loosing ranking, i have always thought of rankings as rentals. No player can ever buy the property.

i suppose i am not recovered yet from the reaction of the RO crowd during the match. And the unfortunate actions of the french tv, turning Rafa's exit into an opportuity for him to not only be jeered, but booed as he left the court.
now with the withdrawal of Queens, and Wimbledon only a "hope". And the persistant rumors about issues within his family...

its just jab jab a left a right, jab jab...then today reading Andre's quotes felt like an upper cut to the chin. And i saw stars.

i see things have been corrected. i don't think freak of nature is flattering. in my neck of the woods this is a dis. Even in a joking way.

Oh, that's right. Forgot about the IW situation, Andrew. That stinks royally. Sorry, man.

And gotcha on the "upside down" part too. :)

Brittany, the apples are a bit tart to be honest. :)

I love that line. Though Matt Damon saying it in Good Will Hunting was a lot more enjoyable.

Aw, well. There are people starving in the world, so the results of some folks hitting a little ball with sticks probably shouldn't get us too wound up. Have a good day, everyone. :)

Syd,

I'd hold off on calling Soderling's victory a "fluke," especially after he immediately backed it up by thrashing two of the best players in the world right after. You may WANT it to be a fluke, and it may make you feel better to think it will never happen again, but with the schedule Nadal plays, the toll it takes on his knees every year, the weakening of his air of invincibility, and the realization that many crowds root not for him but for his opponent, I think it would be wise to hold off on dismissing Soderling.

Again, though I know that is DESPERATELY what you and other Nadal fans want right now.

Britanny,

I'm not a Nadal fan, just the way I saw it.

Mike, you and others who have Rafa and Roger as 1-2 in your hearts, it must be very difficult sometimes. But then again, it's probably easier at other times. :)

Brittany, geez. Decaff. :)