London Eye from St. James Park
LONDON – Decline and falling? Like the Roman Empire?
Maybe.
But one thing is clear. Roger Federer, the man who owned the green room – Centre Court at Wimbledon – will not be the centerpiece Sunday. After seven straight years of believing that this tennis court belonged to him, he was rudely evicted by a guy born in the Czech Republic village of Vallasske Mezerici and lives in Prostejov. Anybody who can spell or pronounce them should get a prize. (Like many other athletes, Tomas Berdych visits his money in Monte Carlo.) continue reading »
June 30 2010 | Wimbledon | 3 Comments »
Topiary TV cameraman on Broadcast Center roof
LONDON – Normally the aged tennis tournament known as Wimbledon opens its gates in much the same manner employed by the log-ago Romans at their Colosseum. Throw some citizens to the lions, and see who could be entertaining. continue reading »
June 21 2010 | Wimbledon | 1 Comment »
Federation day fireworks in Melbourne, near the tennis
“This is going to be the greatest Scottish victory since we beat the English at Bannockburn,” a Scotsman was telling me before the Australian Open final commenced.
When was that, sir?
“Why, 1314,” he answered, as though it were yesterday.
Andy Murray, the great bright hope of Scotland and Britain, hopes he doesn’t have to wait that long to win a tennis major and acclaim as his land’s most prominent victor since the Scots of Bannockburn. continue reading »
January 31 2010 | Australian Open | 6 Comments »
Reflections Central Park
NEW YORK – It ain’t Roger’s Rumpus Room any more.
He was served an eviction notice from a playroom called Arthur Ashe Stadium to which he thought he had a lifetime title. It had become an annual custom for Roger Federer: drop in on New York like a one-man fireworks display, bash everybody in sight and wrap up another US Open championship. continue reading »
September 14 2009 | US Open | 3 Comments »
Commemorative plaques have recently been placed on the show courts
LONDON – The yellow tennis ball hung above Andy Roddick’s left shoulder like a mini-moon. He eyed it with animosity, his weapon poised to shoot the moon as 15,000 witnesses surrounding the grass patch called Centre Court couldn’t believe that with one simple smack the rejuvenated American would post a 2-set lead over the 5-time champion, Roger Federer. It was oh-so-close to happening as the Lord of the Swings, Federer, stood by helplessly while Roddick, close to the net and sideline – possessing his 4th set point in the second set tie-breaker – went after the ball with a backhand…and bungled it. continue reading »
July 04 2009 | Wimbledon | 18 Comments »
Another view of the roof closed over Centre Court as an experiment.
Somebody had to break Ivo Karlovic’s serve. It looked for days that a sledgehammer would be required, but all it took was a tennis racket – in the skilled right hand of Roger Federer. Karlovic, the Leaning Tower of Zagreb, was toppled like a pile of bricks after Federer got his eyes fixed firmly on the ball. At 6-feet-10, the mighty Croat seemed to be dropping grenades from a high-rise during his first four victories that took him into the quarter-finals. He suffered no breaks in 79 games while looking at only 4 break points and firing 137 aces. continue reading »
July 01 2009 | Wimbledon | 1 Comment »
Roger Federer with Bud's book, which Bud presented to him after his win over Roddick.
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Zing went the strings of his racket – along with the frame, his composure and hopes of reversing the reverse trend in his career. Can we be talking about Roger Federer, the paragon, clearly the most beloved player in today’s game??
Afraid so, folks. He has lost his way, and it’s no fun to watch him unravel as he did against Novak Djokovic in the semis of the seaside convention called the Sony Ericsson Open. It didn’t end with a bang – nor a whimper, although there were tears.
The bang heard ‘round the world, or at least anywhere within TV range occurred in the second game of the final set when Roger did his Marat Safin impersonation, mangling his instrument against the court’s purple pavement. This stroke left the racket as twisted as Roger’s route lately. He was in the midst of something unheard of in the land of Federer – a streak of 7 lost games on the way to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 defeat. continue reading »
April 03 2009 | Tournaments | 5 Comments »
Closeup of a cluster of Jacaranda flowers on a tree in bloom
KANGAROO VALLEY, Australia – Wending our way toward Melbourne and another Australian Open, which will be quieter this year. Unfortunately the Siberian Siren, Maria Sharapova, won’t be there to defend her title.
She was so terrific a year ago, winning 14 of 14 sets, looking very No. 1, crushing then No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarters, 6-4, 6-0 (perhaps making the retired mini-gem, Justine wonder if life among the musculars was worth continuing). Alas, Sharapova needs more time to rehab and train following right shoulder surgery. Not that shriekers won’t be heard – Venus and Serena to name two. But nobody’s in a vocal class with Maria, whose arias turn many off – or to earplugs.
continue reading »
January 14 2009 | Australian Open | No Comments »
Many thank-you’s to all of you who wrote about my U.S. Open columns. It’s not easy to find a chef who can deal with crow. But my roommate, Anita, came through with a dish that would have made Julia Child proud. It was good to see Roger in such ripping form again, but we can’t underestimate the favor Murray did for him in removing Nadal. That was the final everybody wanted to see: Roger and Rafa at the Meadow. Maybe next year? Meanwhile, my original pick, Djokovic, is just going to get better. And so is Murray, along with Sam Querrey.
It was good also to see Serena back in form. She’d been having a dreary, sub-standard year like Roger, flops in the first three majors. Her quarter-final victory over Venus (which should have been the final if the USTA had been alert in seeding) was a competitive masterpiece, saving a total of 10 set points over two sets. The surprise was that Jelly Jankovic nearly took Serena to a third set. It’s amazing that Jelly has been No. 1 (for a week) this year with a nothing serve. I offered to fix it for her, but she just smiled. But she does need help.
September 16 2008 | US Open | No Comments »
Roger Federer fans awaiting his semifinal, hoping that it will get played in spite of hurricane threats....
NEW YORK – So I’m sitting here, munching my crow burger, washing it down with stale coffee.
A guy from Switzerland, who owns a cow named Juliette, and also, for years, was used to cowing foes, is back at that business, silencing the doubters like me. We are delighted – at least I am – to eat crow (I’m told either sautéed or roasted is preferable), and bear witness that Roger Federer is yet capable of divine acts with a tennis racket.
Saving the best for last during a painful season in which he lost dozen times to lesser beings, won only two so-so tournaments, certainly appeared to have lost a step and strict control of his serve and forehand, Federer wowed a full-house at Ashe Stadium yesterday. And, yes, he had again cowed seven troublesome guys along the major route to continue as the U.S. Open champion. Five straight, leaving Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokjovic and now Andy Murray tattoed with his tire tracks.
continue reading »
September 08 2008 | US Open | 8 Comments »
Next »
