Rafael Nadal and the Calendar Grand Slam in 2014

The way ahead for Rafael Nadal is to plan his 2014 campaign with a focus on a calendar grand slam and stay injury free.  He could be the first player in 45 years to complete a Calendar Grand Slam.   His chances seem very bright given his current form and his fitness.  He seems simply unstoppable.  Age is also just on his side. On hindsight the current number of 13 slams does not justify his talent and skills.    However he could still end up as the greatest ever tennis player.  As things stand now 60 singles titles, 13 slams, Olympic Gold, marathon Davis Cup victories besides steering Spain to the title a few times is good enough for greatness.  The only thing missing in his CV is the Grand Slam and 2014 may present his best chance subject to his fitness.

Coming to Federer his failure to tackle his nemesis -Rafael Nadal adequately  has lead to his decline in the long run.  Several losses in finals in all the Grand Slams had robbed him of the mental edge.  Gradually it has hurt his game.  A lack of plan and thought which seems to be the heart of every Nadal campaign has been missing.  In the years 2004-2009 his artistry left his opponents and fans mesmerised , with the honourable exception of Nadal who not only outplayed him but seems to have a good measure of his psyche.  A year or two from now,   at the most Federer is most likely to surrender the claim to the most number of singles grand slam to Nadal barring a miracle.  Yet his reign will be remembered and cherished for the sheer silken touch he brought back to the game with its slow courts and power hitters.  He is probably the last of the serve and volley players thought in all fairness it must be said that since 2008 he has hardly done justice to his volleying skills, perhaps out of fear of being passed by Nadal and Djokovic.

Sania-Li...

A Nadal- Djokovic showdown is looming large on the US Open Men's Final.  However one never knows.  Wawrinka could still play the match of his life to alter the script.  Whatever may be the possible matchup Nadal seems the odd-on favourite to win the Open this year.   Time for a change of guard in men's tennis.    Despite the depth in Men's tennis the top 3 Nadal, Federer (though his time is clearly up now), Djokovic and Murray to some extent have dominated the scene for several years.  The men's players ranked lower seem to be lacking only in one attribute-fire in the belly. Some years back there were bemoans on the lack of depth in women's tennis. Clearly things have changed over the years.

While Li-Na may have lost badly to Serena Williams in the semis, there was absolutely no disgrace. Li-Na has been a pioneer in Chinese tennis or for that matter Asian tennis.  Comparison with Sania will most certainly arise and justifiably so.  Her rise has been meteoric while Sania's Single's performance has nose-dived.  Wonder if the reason is more of a attitudinal problem and probably also sums up the difference between China and India.   Remember Sania cribbing that clay was not her favourite surface at the start of every French Open in her Single's hey days before she eventually lost badly.   As though Chinese prefer clay courts!!!!!!.  Li-Na was ranked much below Sania some years back and she went on to capture the French Open some years back besides two other Grand Slam finals. She is in for greater glory. It is really astounding. The work she has put has certainly paid off and how!!!!  Sania is no longer in the Single's pecking order.  Not that she was ever much of a threat!    Some years back the very mention of a Chinese Single's Grand Slam champion would have elicited howls of laughter but that is a reality today.  For India it has become eternal quest akin to an endless dark tunnel. One is tempted to remember the famous novels 'Good Earth' and Mother India.  Mercifully the Chinese are not yet into cricket.....

End of an Era?

The loss of Roger Federer to Tommy Robredo may have stunned many fans, but going by the way he has shaped up this year was it really surprising?  The next year will decide which way Federer is headed.  For now the 18th Grand Slam seems almost impossible.  A massive overhaul is needed but may be too late. The problem is he is not getting any younger.  A persistent back problem is only making matters worse.  

 

More than the defeats, the manner of the defeats is probably more surprising-straight set losses at the French and  the Open and a four set defeat to a journey man pro. at Wimbledon. The losses have been to men who will never win a grand slam.  Reinventing himself like the way Andre Agassi did in the 2000s maybe is asking for a little too much.

US Open -Nadal once again....

The Nadal /Federer clash if at all it happens is going to be Nadal once again....Nadal is in bruising form....whoever fancies their chances of outlasting better be good.  He is clearly in great shape and form and in those 'moods'.Despite the surface not being his favourite he has tailored his game to win here.  He has done it once and seems on course to do it again. His thireenth Grand Slam.

For Federer despite his greatness, his record against Nadal is something that will haunt him once his playing days are over.  Federer simply seems incapable of putting it across Nadal now.  This reminds me of Indian cricket's woes in the eighties in their clashes with arch rivals and neighbours-Pakistan.  All in the head.  Will not detract his greatness, but his efforts seem to be wanting.  In Grand Slams Nadal has beaten him several times 5 times at the French, once at Wimbledon and twice at the Australian Open.  They have never played each other at US Open.  Despite Federer's great record at the Open,  increasingly he seems more and more vulnerable to power hitters like Nadal, Berdych, Tsonga and the like.  Mentally he has gone off the boil, definitely some of it has to do with age and reflexes.   Nadal is the clear favourite at this year's Open.  The others will do well but will struggle to
match Nadal's intensity when it finally counts.