US Open...

For the past week, it has been only Flushing meadows that we see on TV. The Nadal- Youzhany match was disappointing. I was hoping that like the Wimbledon, this time around too, it would be a Federer- Nadal final. There was a beautiful article about the Federer-Nadal jodi in the Sept. 4th edition of Time magazine, comparing the game styles of these two champions.

Federer reminds me of Pete Sampras. For years together, I was a die hard fan of this absolutely cool guy. Amma would say “Oh! Andha Naay maadhiri naaka velila viduvane avana!” (that girl who would let his tongue out like a dog always). I personally believe that it is this utmost coolness, and intense concentration on the game – that was the key to Pete’s success and now Federer’s too. For there have been great players with much stronger and quicker shots in competition to these two guys, and yet they emerge as winners only because of the consistency in their game.

This was proved in yesterday’s game too – Federer vs Blake. An awesome adrenaline pumping 2 hour 47 minutes of pure professional tennis it was! After the first set which rallied for a long long time, I was scared that Federer might lose – but the second set proved me wrong. Blake had some very very good shots and quick movements, but guess he was not sure of himself and not at all consistent. He gave easy points to Federed and fought long to win one small teeny-weeny point. Federer’s game is like a symphony – smooth – no undulations, confident and suave.

On the Women’s side, we are rooting for Maria Sharapova. She is the hottest star in the field now – but unlike her predecessors Anna and Sania, who were only good in Ads and not at the game – Sharapova is a pleasure on and off court. That gorgeous black dress of hers surely pulls a lot of crowd. She faces Mauresmo – the half man-half woman – today. That pretty much seals her fate of winning the US Open, but you never know miracles can happen!