Photos From The BNP Paribas Open

Just over one week ago, The Jess and I made a run to the desert to catch the world's best tennis players plying their craft. After a day and a half of total tennis immersion, I was on absolute tennis tilt, which is a positive.
The thing about this event is that you just get overwhelmed by the talent level of these people. The access for fans, what with the practice courts and general admission, is unparalleled. You're standing right next to Rafael Nadal on the practice court, or sitting courtside watching outrageously skilled athletes brawling for their meal money, and you just reel.
It's hard to describe the power, speed, fitness, and creativity these men and women demonstrate. Really hard, but that why it's so thrilling as a fan.
The Jess had her mega-powered camera around her neck, and we got some pretty great shots you can enjoy by clicking here. One of the women she photographed, a Belgian named Yanina Wickmayer, was snapped during an incredibly tense match against Daniela Hantuchova and the photos are awesome. So awesome, in fact, that Wickmayer's website manager emailed The Jess today and asked permission to use some of them.

What A Sports Day!

Quite a sports day, just finished watching the Super Bowl and am too tired to write about Rafael Nadal's incredible 5 set victory over Roger Federer in the men's Australian Open final. These two warriors added another chapter to their lexicon of classic matchups and, once again, Rafa came out on top.
Rafa has put a firm hold on the number one ranking with his first Grand Slam on hardcourts and seems to be adding to his own legend every day. For Federer, the implications of this loss were clearly evident as he struggled to get through the trophy presentation.
More on this titanic clash in the next few days.

Rafa Wins A Classic And I Missed It

The toughest thing about the Australian Open is the time difference, no question about it. The men's semifinal match, not to mention the Williams sisters in the doubles final, started at 12:30 this AM. No way I can stay up for that, and unfortunately I forgot to set my DVR.
Turns out I missed, not only the Venus and Serena taking the doubles championship, but also one of the greatest singles matches in Australian Open history. Fernando Verdasco and Rafael Nadal slugged it out for nearly 5 hours and 30 minutes, with Rafa outlasting the reinvigorated and game Verdasco 6-4 in the 5th set.
I've got the replay on Tennis Channel as I write this and the level of play is really high, its just not the same when you know who won. Gonna miss tonight's women's final between Serena Williams and Dinara Safina as well, since we're celebrating The Jess' birthday party. Rafa and Roger Federer will square off Sunday starting at 12:30 AM, so the DVR will be set, and The Jess and I will have some breakfast and a pre-Super Bowl Grand Slam final with the renewal of one of sports' greatest rivalries.

Australian Open 2009 Preview: Wayne Odesnik Watch Resumes

It's time to turn our focus down under and get ready for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. The theme for this two weeks is quite the same for both the men and women's draw: who wants to stamp the season with their name and make a claim to the world number one ranking.
Make no mistake, world supremacy is most assuredly up for grabs. On the men's side, Rafael Nadal has nothing close to a strong grip on the number one spot, and Roger Federer must deal with the ignominy of being a number two seed for the first time in years. Andy Murray is surging forward and is a sexy pick to break through, but has to play under this mounting pressure and expectation.
The early rounds, which start tomorrow (with TV coverage starting on ESPN2 tomorrow night, have a handful of choice matches, particularly American Sam Querrey vs Philip Kohlschreiber, and Australia's golden boy Lleyton Hewitt taking on the much-disliked Fernando Gonzalez. I'm not watching this because of sentimentality for Hewitt on his home court; these dudes are both obnoxious and loud-mouthed, so the on-court antics should be quite festive.
Best of all, though, is that Wayne Odesnik is back in the main draw after winning three qualifying matches. He takes on Mario Ancic in the first round, and I refuse to pick against him in this clash.
The Tipsy Historian's Picks

Semis: Andy Murray vs Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer vs Andy Roddick (look for Roddick's quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic to be an all-out brawl)

Finals: Murray vs Federer

Champion: Federer reminds Murray just how hard it is to take that final step and win a Grand Slam by taking the Australian Open 2009 away from him

The Tipsy Historian 2008 Year In Review

The New Year is always a special time, and this time around, more than ever. A recurring personality in these posts is my wife, The Jess, and 2008 was a most challenging year for her, for me, and for us as a couple. If you look in the archives there is a writing vacuum from late January into April, and the astute observer will note in the sidebar "Why The Jess Is Cool" the one notation that's in all capital letters.
We pushed through a tough stretch together and I've never been more proud of anyone or anything in my life than I am of her. We've both worked hard to keep some balance and brightness in our lives as some dark energy pushed against us, and we've been pretty successful. I'm grateful and happy that this space was a large part of my cognitive recreation and creativity, which I'm sure is evinced by the nearly 200 posts I wrote in just over 8 months.
This blog has served as an effective relaxation and mental escape technique over the past year, and I'm sure it will remain so, but hopefully without a sense of urgency or anxiety driving the work. And what a lot of work we've done! When I started blogging, I wondered what themes would develop within the subjects that draw my interest, and over the course of 2008, there were some most engaging threads developed.
The American Civil War rose far to the front here, and I'm incredibly happy and proud of our ongoing study of The Lost Cause mythology and our collective memory of the ACW. There are some fantastic blogs out there that I discovered over the course of the year that share this focus (Cenantua's Blog being right at the top of the heap), which has made the journey that much richer.
There is no shortage of controversy and emotion in this subject matter, and we've tackled a quite a few provocative issues. When you begin challenging long-established perceptions and beloved folklore, you're gonna stir up some emotions. I believe that this is important work and I'm glad that a visceral chord is struck here from time to time.
Though my reading list is chock-a-block with Civil War material, and the majority of posts here do cover this topic, no small amount of attention has been paid to the importance of a tasty beverage. Between roasting my own coffee and inventing drinks filled with black apricot, basil, cantaloupe, and cachaca, The Jess and I have not gone thirsty this year.
We also haven't been short of drama on the tennis court, whether I'm out grinding with Simon the Great or watching and writing about the four Grand Slams. Nothing comes anywhere close to the fun that I had writing about the surging rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and no sporting event I've ever seen can even approach the sheer brilliance and stunning drama of their clash in the Wimbledon final this year.
So what's been my favorite post of the year? There are a few that I'm quite pleased with, several that have attracted some attention and comment, and a few that will quench a powerful thirst. None of them has the appeal that writing about my cousin Guy's journey to a world championship held for me. I was a sportswriter before I went to grad school, and it's a pursuit that I love and missed, up until this event happened. It was also an incredibly dramatic moment amidst a year that was well-drenched in sporting achievements.
The thrill of this occasion and the sheer joy we all felt seeing my cousin pull over this amazing feat will always be special to me for these reasons and one more. That moment helped break through a pall in my life and was the jump-off point for a tremendous source of recreation and fun for me. That April 21st post was my first in several months and stands up as a powerful symbol for me.
I look forward to moving into 2009 and anticipate another rich year of subject matter to write about. Before we make that transition, I would like to give a word of thanks to those who have spent a few moments reading my prose. This is a public place and I'm grateful to anyone who should happen by and spend some time here. I hope to see you again many times in a healthy and happy 2009!

UCLA Football Triumphant! (Nadal Too, But Barely)

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a victory for the UCLA Bruins tonight! Honestly, I'm just reeling at the size of this last-second, come from behind overtime 27-24 win over 18th ranked Tennessee. I mean, we were supposed to be terrible; no quarterback, no O-line, an overhauled coaching staff. This wasn't supposed to be close!
In true gutty Bruin spirit, this team came together under new coach Rick Neuheisel and put together an effort for the ages. How many teams could lose three starters in the first quarter and still win? How many quarterbacks could throw 4 interceptions in one half in their first start and come back with a Montana-esque second half? How many defenses could keep their much maligned offense in the game for so long without a drop in morale or confidence.
One. Your 2008 UCLA Bruins football team.
I wish I was still writing for the Daily Bruin after a game like this one, the storylines just overflow the keyboard: Neuheisel's homecoming, Kevin Craft's unbelievable second half performance, the touchdown drive followed by Tennessee's field goal at the final gun to tie, the game-winning field goal, the genius of coordinators DeWayne Walker and Norm Chow, that unreal defense!
What a boost to the team's confidence, what a shot in the arm for recruiting, what a way to start the year! Think the team doesn't feel it? Check out Coach Neuheisel celebrating with the fans after the game.
OK, I've caught my breath, so on to today's US Open action, and we'll start with the women. My pick to win, Dinara Safina, stormed into the quarters in two easy sets, as did the Williams sisters. Older sister Venus gave a serious beating to Agnieszka Radwanska and will face her sister in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
On the men's side, I caught the last set of Mardy Fish's easy win over Gael Monfils, and I'm not sure what to make of it. Not that Fish didn't deserve to win, but Monfils had clearly thrown in the towel and was pretty much goofing off in the third set. I wish players wouldn't do that, just have the integrity to play hard regardless or get off the court.
Monfils could take a lesson from top-seeded Rafa Nadal in the effort category, and Nadal needed every ounce he could muster in a brutal 6-2, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 win over Sam Querrey. This one I watched from beginning to end, and Querrey gave the number one player in the world all he could handle. There was a stretch from late in the second set to just before the 3rd set tiebreak where Querrey had Nadal pretty well befuddled, and his forehand was just tremendous; it's effort like today's that will push Querrey into the top 20 if he keeps it up.
Just as he can build on the positive, he needs to see where the next step in his game is, and we go back to the central dogma of tournament tennis: big players play big on big points. Querrey basically got out of Nadal's way in the 3rd set tiebreaker after brawling his way into it, and after going down a break at 4-2 in the fourth set, he had a total of seven break point chances on Nadal's serve, but couldn't convert. Still, a fantastic effort.
Tomorrow we'll see the rest of the quarterfinal brackets filled out, but in the meantime, click here for all the UCLA football coverage you need while you listen to the mighty Bruins roar!

US Open 2008 Preview

Whew, three posts in two days and 5 in the past three, guess I had a lot to say!
Tomorrow begins my single favorite sporting event of the year; the 2008 US Open tennis tournament! Two weeks packed to the rafters with drama, noise, brilliant shotmaking, and unreal tension. All the big names are playing, all the celebs are traveling; the final Grand Slam of the year is ready to go!
This is our national tennis tournament, and it is bigger, louder, more intense, and more dramatic than anything else in the tennis world. The players' personalities always come out as they have a chance to wear their emotions on their sleeves, so each match becomes incredibly engaging. The grounds are absolutely swarmed with fans and the matches go all hours, so the setting is loud and beer-soaked. For the American tennis fan, the hard court playing surface is the same that we play on, so this is a fantastic study of tennis tactics and shotmaking on a platform that we're very familiar with.
Even with all this, here is the best part (after trying to watch the Olympics on the other side of the world) No tape delays in the hours and hours of daily coverage!
Quickly before we start the preview, I'm going to extend the deadline for the Andy Murray Nickname Contest until Wednesday 8/27, so get your votes in if you haven't already.
There is tremendous uncertainty on both the women's and men's draws on the eve of the tourney, with no clear favorite going into the Open, so that said, let the preview begin.
You may have thought after reading the above comment about uncertainty in the men's draw that I'm flat out nuts; that Rafael Nadal is the favorite, he's number one in the world, Federer is slipping, and no one else is close. These are valid points, but not so fast. The bane of Rafa's tennis existence remains hard courts, especially at Flushing Meadow where his best result is the quarterfinals. Not only that, but the courts take a tremendous toll over two weeks, and for a player with Nadal's physicality, that is nothing to sneeze at. he's also number one in the world now, and for some people wearing a target that size is quite an albatross. Finally, there is the Olympic question. No one can predict what effect the Olympics will have had on these players, but I would bet that for Rafa, his gold medal run in Beijing will detract from his preparation for the Open. Consider the travel, the emotional high, the daily matches, and the travel again.
Roger Federer is clearly not the Federer of old, and I agree with most pundits out there that he looks burned out, needs a break and a fresh perspective. He's also an unbelievable competitor, with a versatile game perfectly suited for the Open, as his previous results attest. Hard to believe I'm saying this, but he's the very definition of a wild card in this event. Will he have the form and confidence to push deep into the tournament, or will he wash out early.
Aside from these two there are some familiar names in the mix. Of course Andy Roddick is supercharged for this one, and Andy Murray played brilliantly over the summer, Olympics notwithstanding. Novak Djokovic is a sexy pick for the title and always plays well on hard surfaces. There is also a fascinating groundswell of young talent in the men's game, and you can be sure they understand that New York is a great place to make your name.
Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro ripped apart the summer season in the US with the top players in Beijing, winning 4 consecutive tournaments and 19 straight matches. France's Gilles Simon and Switzerland's Stanislaus Wawrinka are also on the rise, but keep this name foremost in your mind: Ernests Gulbis of Latvia. He is young, confident, and has an unbelievable game. He is poised for a breakthrough, and this may well be the year.
Here are my predictions:
Semifinals: Federer vs Djokovic, Nadal vs Murray
Finals: Djokovic vs Nadal
Winner: Rafael Nadal
After looking at the women's side, I honestly want to throw up my hands, as this draw is in a state of anarchy. What a bizarre year this has been, with retirements, nerves, questionable commitment, and injuries shattering the upper echelons of the game. Now we are left with a host of women playing well, but not a single person showing they are ready to rise to the top. I'm not saying there isn't quality there, because that's not the case. Ladies like Dinara Safina, Ana Ivanovic, Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic are playing outstanding tennis, and just like the men, there is a whole new crop of players banging on the door of the top ten. It's just that no one stands above the rest in any meaningful way.
Which is just awesome! I mean, how much fun is this going to be? Look for upsets galore, new names and personalities plowing into the second week, and a first time Grand Slam winner.
Semifinals: Dinara Safina vs Agnieszka Radwanska, Anna Chakvetadze vs Jelena Jankovic
Finals: Safina vs Chakvetadze
Winner: Safina
There is a massive quantity of daily coverage and here is a link to the schedule. Keep your eyes peeled for the final US Open appearance of tennis' last magician, Fabrice Santoro. He will battle Andy Roddick in a first round match on Tuesday, sure to be at night. There are also two wonderful blogs to keep you updated, aside from The Tipsy Historian, of course. Rafa Nadal will be blogging again and the NY Times maintains an excellent tournament blog, so definitely keep up with both.
This is going to be a ton of fun, so stay tuned and up to date!

A Changing Of The Tennis Guards

As I write this post, Rafael Nadal is serving for the match at the Cincinnati Masters against Nicolas Lapennti. Why does this Friday evening clash deserve special mention? If Nadal closes things out, he will be the new number one player in the world, ending Roger Federer's 4.5 year reign.
We could see this coming after Wimbledon, but the last few weeks have shown serious chinks in Federer's armor, losing his first round match in Toronto and his second match in Cincy. Rafa meanwhile carried his Wimbledon...

I pause because Rafa is now the number one ranked tennis player in the world. Good for him!

...momentum and won the Toronto tourney and is now rolling towards the finals of Cincy.
There can be no debate on whether Rafa deserves to be number one in the world; last year he began closing the gap, this year he has flown into the limelight with his incredible wins at the French Open and Wimbledon. He is clearly playing incredible tennis and it will be great fun to see how long his time on top will last.
For Federer, there is obviously much mental turmoil going on. No doubt the Wimbledon defeat is still on his mind and now after losing matches to Gilles Simon and Ivo Karlovic, it will be a massive challenge for him to regain his top form. He absolutely has the game to do it, but as I've preached here from the beginning, tennis is mostly played above the shoulders. Right now, Roger's head is clearly fogged up with negativity and self-doubt.

On the women's side, there is just ridiculous turbulence as no one seems to want to take the number one mantle. Yesterday it was Jelena Jankovic losing a match that would have given her the top spot. Today, Ana Ivanovic gakked away her shot.
Worse yet, Maria Sharapova announced that her ever-balky right shoulder will keep her out of both the Olympics and the US Open. There is no bigger draw or brighter star on the women's side, especially in New York, and this is a huge loss.
This year continues to gather momentum as one of the most fascinating in tennis memory; we've got an ascendant number one, a legend on the ropes, and a women's game where no one seems to want to take charge. If there has ever been a tennis summer with more riding on it, I'm not aware.
Oh yeah, my tourney is 3 weeks away and I'm trying to get ready. Played really well on Monday evening, have been working really hard the last few days and the rackets have stayed in the closet. Next week should feature much training, and I'm looking forward to it.

Reflections On The Greatest Sporting Event Ever

Frequently in the sporting world, not to mention news in general, once a notable event has concluded and the appropriate articles written, we in our short attention-span-having splendor do what comes naturally. We move on to new issues.
By yesterday morning, ESPN and CNNSI had dropped the Nadal-Federer epic final from their respective front pages completely. The only mention of Nadal was that he had pulled out of this week's Stuttgart tourney. You had to search into the website to find the substantive summaries and editorials. Just like that, a once in a lifetime event begins to slip from our consciousness.
That, my friends, is something that I'm just not okay with; I believe this match does demand a bit more reflection, because we may never see its equal in our lifetimes. I don't; however, wish to rehash the match shot for shot (though I don't think it will ever be deleted from my DVR) or discuss player statistics.
The impact of this match was larger than any of that, and I'm not the only one who feels that way. On "Pardon The Interruption" yesterday, a show that notoriously relegates tennis to the back bench, the first 4 minutes of the program were spent discussing what transpired at the All England the day before. More than that, the discussion was not a loud bashing of Federer or elevation of Nadal. No, it was a discussion about just how huge this classic was in the sporting pantheon and whether it will bring about a tennis renaissance in America.
On ESPN Classic, the match was re-aired yesterday as an "Instant Classic". That is the billing usually reserved for Super Bowls, college sports or MLB playoff games. Again, there is a most satisfying tenor of recognition of what happened; that we need to see it again and again to believe it.
In the world of tennis writing, of course this match is still on everyone's tongues and keyboards. The good thing is we are starting to see some interesting reflection, photos, and video compilations as the size and structure of the battle is dissected. With months to go before the US Open, this will certainly continue to dominate the conversation of the tennis fan and cogniscenti alike.
The greatest and most unique recognition I've seen thus far came from the NY Times. Yesterday there were two stories about the match, coverage usually reserved for Super Bowls and World Series'. Clearly a good start, but today was the exclamation point. For the first time I can recall in the 5 years I've been getting the Times online, there was an editorial about sports. It wasn't the Giants winning the Super Bowl, or the travails of the Yankees, it was Rafa and Roger.
Certainly, this classic will be on all of the year-end "best of" lists, but I am certain that it will, over time, transcend those labels. This contest will become a magnum opus for us to reminisce about, re-watch, read and write about. This was history unfolding in front of us and the sporting public is clearly not ready to let it go.
Of course time will move on and ardor will cool, but when the 2008 Wimbledon final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer finds its way onto bookshelves and into all-time highlight reels, it will always be our privilege to remember when we were witnesses to sporting history.

The Greatest Sporting Event Ever

There is no comparison. No metaphor, no debate, no polls.
What happened yesterday in the men's singles final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal was the most stunning athletic display I have ever seen. From the slow buildup over the past few years, accelerating this summer into yesterday's cataclysmic 5 hour collision, the tennis world and the way I watch sports will never be the same.
The spectacle was so huge, the competition so intense, the level of play so high, the ramifications so far reaching; it is going to take some time for everything to really sink in.
This was 5 sets of the most spectacular drama: jaw-dropping shotmaking, incredible speed, unbreakable fitness, opportunities missed, and in the end, immortality seized.
This is not just about Rafa winning Wimbledon for the first time or Federer losing another Grand Slam, this is about two men with the highest level of respect for each other putting everything on the line in fair competition. This is the closest our society will ever come to bloodsport, because neither of these men will ever fully regain all that they gave yesterday.
This was also one of the rare moments where sport became high art, because the exertions of both competitors under the most grueling conditions with so very much at stake was truly beautiful to behold. The surreal nature of the match's climax added the perfect accent, the sun setting in a clear sky, darkness rolling in. Transition.
And a transition is just what we saw. The passing of the torch, or trophy, as it were, as Federer turned over a title he had held for half a decade to a man who had proved himself worthy on every level.
It took every ounce of will, heart, fitness and talent from both men to get to that spot. There were 2 rain delays to work through. Each had to deal with tremendous opportunities wasted (Federer up 4-2 and serving in the second set, Rafa serving at 5-2 in the 4th set tiebreaker and double-faulting) They had to deliver their very best punches at the biggest moments, and take the hardest blows of the other.
Federer had to find a way to overcome the near-complete neutralizing of his backhand as an offensive weapon, and he rode a huge serve and the greatest forehand in the history of the game right to the precipice of victory. Ironically, it was the forehand that let him down in the final moment as he became Wimbledon runner-up for the first time.
For Rafa, it was steeling nerves that were clearly rubbed raw in the fourth set tiebreaker, and managing to grind through in the end. His unbelievable speed turned danger into offense again and again. From court positions that made me shudder, Nadal would blast crosscourt backhands and forehands down the line, would transition from defeat to victory.
They went back and forth, asking everything of themselves and their opponent, and we just had to hold on for the ride. My heart was pounding, my breathing was fast, I had to pee but I couldn't break away. I watched history write itself, I saw the stuff of books, of legends, of people saying "remember that final?" I was thousands of miles away from the action, yet felt privileged to be a part of it.
I held on with everyone else as these two slugged it out on equal footing, and saw that just as the victor was far from inevitable, so was the idea that the match might finish before sunset. There are no lights at Wimbledon, so the idea that we might have to wait until today for a finish became quite real.
With only moments to go before play would be suspended by darkness, Nadal cracked Federer's serve for only the 4th time, then took the match onto his own racket. As if to show us just how far he's come, that he deserved to be Wimbledon champ, Nadal served and volleyed at 0-15, then hit another volley winner at 15-all.
Rafa closed out his masterpiece 5 set triumph by dropping to the ground amidst the roaring crowd, then rose to meet the man he had vanquished at the net. The interaction there was telling, because both have the utmost appreciation and respect for what the other went through and was feeling.
For Rafa, he was higher than he has ever been, higher even than Spanish royalty, who had to reach up to shake his hand as he climbed through the stands. For Federer, the devastation and loss he felt was clear, as the same tears he shed last year in victory welled up again in defeat. As he spoke with John McEnroe, the interview had to be cut short as the emotion cut across his face.
When the two warriors met again to receive their trophies, their conduct towards each other, towards the fans, and the game itself left me feeling proud to be a tennis player and unending fan of these two men. They spoke respectfully of each other and still showed how much the moment meant to them in both victory and defeat.
As Federer and Nadal turned to face the crowd in the gathering darkness, we beheld the passing of the championship and saw this contest supersede anything that had come before. In the final transition, night became day as the lights from thousands of flashbulbs drenched the men in a molten, surreal glow. The perfect final touch; because suddenly, there were lights at Centre Court illuminating the greatest that sports can offer.

Wimbledon Approaches Its Zenith

Both finals are set, and both are packed with drama and anticipation. On the women's side, it's gonna be Williams vs Williams for the title tomorrow morning. They've met many times before in Grand Slam finals, six to be exact, and the only question before each match is will both women play their best tennis. I'm not implying they hold back when they play each other, I can only imagine how difficult it would be to compete against a sibling for such an important championship. It's always nice when the championship provides a fitting crown to a tournament packed full of incredible tennis, so I'm ready for a serious slugfest between the two most talented female tennis players in the world.
The men's side features a matchup that is more highly anticipated than any tennis matchup since the Borg-McEnroe battles 20+ years ago. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will do battle Sunday morning for the championship after both cruised through their semifinal match.
I like to think I have a good sense of history, and Sunday morning will be history unfolding before our very eyes. This summer of tennis will have books written about it as these two titans set a new standard for the game.
I'm looking forward to the competition, the skill, the energy, the moment. There is so much at stake for these two superstars and we as fans get to sit back and soak it up.

The Championships, Wimbledon 2008: Previewing the Men and Women

This Monday will mark the beginning of the biggest celebration on grass east of Humboldt County, so we must all get our strawberries and cream, scones, and Pimm's Cup ready, as Wimbledon is upon us! Rest easy, your TV viewing schedule is right here, so keep it handy.
The Women's draw coming into the tourney remains as wide open as ever, with the usual cast of suspects looking to make deep runs. The one woman who reliably plays well at Wimbledon is defending champ Venus Williams; however, this year she is decidedly not on form. Likewise her sister Serena, who is having as enigmatic a year as ever. While she is always a tempting choice to make a run on any surface, I'm picking her to wash out somewhere before the quarterfinal.
French Open finalist Dinara Safina seems to still have huge momentum in the grass court season, as she got to the final of the Ordina warmup. The woman who bested her in Paris, Ana Ivanovic, is riding a huge wave of confidence and support, but will be wearing the biggest bullseye of her life as the new number one in the world. You read it here that she won't be up to the task this year. Which leaves us with Maria Sharapova. Sure it may look like a safe, even boring choice, but she does seem to thrive on grass and consistently has shown more heart and has more big match experience than most women on tour. Wimbledon always come down to those with the biggest stones (right Jana Novotna?) and Maria will be the one to rise to the occasion this year.
On the men's side, all eyes are focused on the defending champion 5 YEARS RUNNING Roger Federer and the surging Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Just like in Paris, this is the final we all want to see; will Roger claim a record 6th straight Wimbledon, or will Rafa advance his claim on the number one spot in the world?
In Rafa's corner are two items; first is his grass court confidence built both at Wimbledon last year in his classic final against Federer and this year's Artois, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. As covered above, you can't put a price on confidence. Or on a big serve, which is without peer as a weapon on grass and is where Nadal has made the biggest strides in his game.
For Federer, there are also two things that make him a grass-court player without parallel; his completely chock-full and unmatched toolbox of attacking options and the attitude that comes with having 5 championships next to your name.
Of course there's plenty of dudes that could make impressive runs, and no one has more riding on his ability to do so than Novak Djokovic. After spending the past few weeks shooting his mouth off about how Fed might be losing his confidence, he's going to get his shot at Roger in the semis. Lose that match, or lose early in the tournament, and Djokovic will start looking more and more like the tennis equivalent of Rory Sabbatini.
Speaking of big mouths, too bad England's best hope of ever having a Wimbledon champ again spends more time running his yap than winning matches. Don't ever ask me to root for Andy Murray, because it just won't happen. Especially in his first round match, where he will face one of the most entertaining players out there, Fabrice Santoro, who is playing in his final Wimby.
Another big mouth, but in a much more clever and entertaining way, is Andy Roddick. Coming off a sore shoulder that kept him out of the French, look for Roddick to ride his massive serve deep into the tournament.
There will of course be more storylines, and ever-growing attention on Nadal and Federer as they head towards an epic collision in the finals. Take it to the bank, Federer will quiet the skeptics and doubters en route to a 6th straight Wimbledon title.

Want another preview? Click here for more.

Rafa Nadal, Ascendant

A statement of fact, for once and for all: Rafael Nadal is the greatest clay-court tennis player who has ever lived.
I know that sometimes I am prone to hyperbole in my posts, which is borne of both enthusiasm and my fair share of knowledge about the sport of tennis, but the above statement of fact is nothing short of unvarnished, undebatable, empiric truth.
This morning Nadal put on one of the single-most dominant athletic performances I've ever seen, dismantling Roger Federer in the French Open final. The score reflects this; 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, a serious beatdown that is easy to see. But there is a subtext here that you had to witness to understand. Nadal didn't just beat Federer, he took away his belief that he could win.
Nadal's power, pace, spin, and court coverage had Federer totally flummoxed and left him trying all sorts of bizarre drop shots to find any sort of opening, to say nothing of taking away any opportunity for Federer to attack the net. His massive backhand and unstoppable forehand had Federer out of position and totally frustrated all morning. His uncanny movement and relentless aggressiveness shattered any game plan of Federer's, leaving him vulnerable and frustrated.
You might say, having reviewed the match summary, that Federer made an uncharacteristically high number of unforced errors, and therefore couldn't have been playing so well. This would be incorrect, because it was Nadal's shots that simply broke Federer down. He strikes the ball so cleanly and with so much spin, that it is just impossible to handle on clay. Federer's errors started and continued because Nadal drilled topspin upon topspin into his backhand, which crumbled like a house of cards.
Put simply, Nadal took a man who is one of the all-time greats and broke his spirit, which is unbelievable! Now, having packed away his 4th straight French Open title (he's now 28 for 28 at Roland Garros), Nadal heads towards Wimbledon, where it remains to be seen whether the size of his game will be enough to unseat Federer where he is most comfortable, on the grass.
Until then though, we must reflect on what happened this morning in Paris, because this sort of pure domination does not happen often.

French Open: We Have Our Dream Final

Quick hits, then onto the goggle-eyed, bouncing-up-and-down, anticipation
Roger Federer defeated Gael Monfils in 4 sets in one French Open semi.
Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic in 3 sets in the other semi.
Which means...
Federer vs Nadal. Sunday morning 6:00 PST on NBC. French Open Men's Singles Final.
YES!
It's really important for any and all sports fans to appreciate what's happening on Sunday morning. You don't have to have any particular affinity for tennis to enjoy the magnitude of this clash. These two men squaring off in competition is the equivalent of Ali/Frazier, McEnroe/Borg, Hearns/Hagler, really any of the great mano a mano rivalries of any generation.
These sorts of rivalries don't happen often, and they should be enjoyed by all who love sports.
On the one hand is Federer, with his easy grace, #1 ranking, and 12 Grand Slam titles, but still missing the last one to complete his resume; the French Open. Oh yeah, he's lost to Nadal there three straight years! This year, after a tough winter and spring, with multiple surprising losses and voices of doubt growing louder about how long he'll be on top, his very reputation is on the line here.
On the other hand is Nadal, with his mammoth arms, unbelievable fighting spirit, and 3 straight French Open titles. In fact, he's never lost at the French Open. Let me repeat that, because it's really an unfathomable thought. He has NEVER lost at Roland Garros. 27 for 27, he is. That's just, well, crazy. However, a loss would dampen that greatness, and people would likely begin to notice his lack of success on any other Grand Slam surface aside from clay, and more and more focus would shift to the ascendant Novak Djokovic as the man to unseat Roger the Great.
When these two meet, there is great respect between them, but they both have a clear understanding of what's on the line. Not only that, but neither one shies away from their clashes, in fact, they both seem to relish it, knowing that beating the other puts them at the very highest pinnacle of tennis. Finally, they both bring their absolute A game to their battles. There is never any whining, slowing down, or backing off.
No, this rivalry gives us the very best that tennis, and all of sports, can offer. The two best at what they do battling for a title with everything on the line. Sunday morning will give us a treat, I promise you, and I'm going out on a limb, and predicting that Federer will pull off the upset and claim his first French Open title. Can't wait to find out if I'm right!

French Open Semifinals

Tomorrow morning brings us the women's semifinals, featuring an all-Russian slugfest between the surging Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first match, followed by a pair of Serbians, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic.
All tourney, the women's draw has been wide open, and now that we're down to the final four, that is ever-more the truth. It's all going to come down to who wants it more and who is ready to step up and win break points, set points, and match points. Opportunity beckons, ladies.
I'm going with Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina to make it to the finals, and it'll be Safina hoisting the champion's trophy Saturday morning. She's winning tough matches and big points, and that's the kind of backbone it'll take to win.
On the men's side, there are a pair of dream semifinals for us to enjoy on Friday. Honestly, I couldn't think of two more delicious matchups.
First up is Rafa Nadal vs Novak Djokovic. This needs no embellishment from me, except DON'T MISS IT!
Second is Roger Federer vs Gael Monfils. Federer has played brilliantly all tournament, and now faces the enigmatic Monfils. This kid is long, fit, and incredibly talented. The knock on him has been his inability to put all his tools together. This tourney; however, looks quite different, as he absolutely dismantled David Ferrer today in the quarters.
Here's the X-factor, Monfils is French.
This means a wild atmosphere on Friday in Paris. It's been 25 years since a Frenchman won, and 8 years since the last French semifinalist. Federer has always had an easy time with Monfils, but this will be a different player in an entirely different setting.
Predictions: Nadal pushes past Djokovic into the finals where he will face Federer in the dream championship match.
I have my thoughts about the winner of this duel, but I don't want to jinx anything, so let's wait until the final is set.
TV times for the semifinals:
-tomorrow at 9:00AM Pacific on ESPN 2 (both women's semifinal matches)
-Friday at 7:00AM Pacific on NBC (first men's semifinal), then switching over to ESPN at either 9 or 10AM for the second semifinal
And remember that matches can be watched live online for free at tennischannel.com

Instant Classic

Rafa and Roger. World number 1 versus world number 2. Three hours. Three sets. Championship on the line. Huge leads and thrilling comebacks. Injury timeouts and huge momentum swings. Magical points and staggering misses. Tiebreakers and breaks of serve. SlidingdirtyspeedygutsyheroicCLASSIC. And after all this drama, a winner and a loser.
What a match!
This morning's Hamburg final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is sure to go down in the annals of their rivalry as one of the greatest matches they've played against each other (and that's saying something, read: last year's Wimbledon final.) This match had everything that draws people to sports and competition, and for me to try to capture all of the subtexts in this event would be futile. If you enjoy sports, think to yourself why, and I promise you, this match had that quality.
I've written a huge blob of words and haven't even told you who won, because, frankly, it doesn't matter. Nadal remains the greatest clay-courter of his era, Federer has begun laying to rest concerns about his pending fall from grace (think Mark Twain and his "reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated"). Both are men of stout hearts, tremendous character and mental toughness, and are at the top of their games.
Now, with the French Open one week away, we can salivate at the possibility of these two squaring off again in the final. Say what you will about the Masters Series events, it's the Grand Slams that make a tennis player truly immortal. And these two in the final, putting on a show like today, is what the sporting world needs to see and needs to appreciate.
Why do I say needs to see? Well, I can promise you that only a handful of Americans with a combination of a Tennis Channel subscription and DVR technology actually watched the match. Does this take anything away from the greatness of the match? Of course not. Does it mean that tennis missed out on the energy burst that an invigorated American tennis viewing public would give the game? Absolutely!
In the midst of the basketball playoffs and early-season basebal, tennis must find a way out of the periphery of the American sporting life and find a way to use battles between these two titans as the springboard. Both tennis fans and the game will be better off.
Oh yeah, Nadal won, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3.

The Clay Master

The clay-court season is in full swing (for the novitiate, the tennis year is roughly divided into a hardcourt session, then clay, then grass, then back to hard courts) and the reigning king of the red gook is rising above the proletariat yet again. He's the young, handsome, dashing Spaniard with the playful broken English and penchant for picking his underwear out of his butt between points. He's the three-time defending French Open champ. He's ranked number two in the world.
He's Rafael Nadal, back up to his usual tricks while basically playing in the mud.
After winning the first two main clay court tourneys of the season, he spent this morning bashing Novak Djokovic around the court in the semifinal of the Hamburg Open, and in doing so, demonstrated why he has likely already displaced the likes of Bjorn Borg as the greatest clay-courter of all time.
Nadal on clay echoes the same level of dominance of Federer the Great on hard and grass courts, and his performance against Djokovic, ranked third in the world and having an amazing season of his own, puts it into specific relief. In the eyes of the Tipsy Historian, there are two fundamental buttresses underlying this greatness: his unbelievable power and aggression, and his unflappable consistency.
Clay court tennis is the ultimate test of tennis skill on many levels. Because the surface is granular and, well, clay, it plays very slowly, meaning that pace generated by the racket head in a swing is absorbed by the court itself. This gives the opponent more opportunity to track down a heavy ball. This makes for long points and tremendous amounts of running, thus putting one's fitness through the wringer.
It also usually nullifies the weapons that set the top players apart, read: Pete Sampras' serve (he never got past the quarters at the French). Those who usually do well on clay are players who grow up playing on the surface, and the fact that Americans rarely play on clay growing up and frankly suck on the surface at the professional level proves this point.
I say usually because Nadal's incredible power breaks through the limitations that clay uses to lock up the games of lesser lights. The guy moves across the court like butter on a hot skillet, and assaults the ball as if it said something about his mamma.
He imparts an unprecedented amount of spin, pace, and energy into the ball off both the forehand and backhand, and his left arm (he's a southpaw) bears mute testimony to this.
Seriously, the dude looks like someone glued He-Man's arm onto an otherwise quite respectably muscled body. And the movement of the ball on the other side of the court is the consequence. Nadal can absolutely dissect a court with his power and spin, putting the ball shoulder-high, making it hard for anyone to keep up.
So there's the power and aggression, but, hey, people get sets off him, right? Federer took him to 5 sets at Roland Garros last year, so he must be flawed, right?
Wrong, because he backs up this brute force with unbelievable consistency, basically the guy doesn't miss. He's like a seasoned basketball team that doesn't commit turnovers or stupid fouls; he doesn't give anything away.
Don't believe me? Today at Hamburg he went three sets with Novak Djokovic. In the first set, which he won 7-5, he committed 9 unforced errors. In the second set, which he lost 6-2, he committed 8 (Djokovic, to his credit, raised his game a notch) In the third and deciding set, Nadal only committed six unforced errors. SIX! And that was when it really counted. Guess what, he won the third set 6-2.
It's that magical combination of power and consistency that puts him at the top of the clay court game. He'll outhit you if it takes him all afternoon, and tomorrow, he puts it on the line against Federer the Great in the final. Oh yes, the DVR is set, and I'll get back at you tomorrow.