US Open 2008 Summary

A few entries back, I wrote that I wish Rafa Nadal would have an excellent stint in the US Open. Well, he actually fared better this year, reaching the semis for the very first time. In fact, it was really great to know that he got farther than the fourth round. Still, it was a lil heart-breaking when he lost to Andy Murray in four sets in the semis. I bet a lot of tennis fans were expecting another Rafa Nadal-Roger Federer final. It could have been more exciting to watch these two guys go up against each other third in a row this year. Especially with Federer chasing his 13th grand slam and 5th consecutive US Open title (and first title for the year) and Rafa winning in a surface he's not really comfortable with. But not to take anything away from Murray, he did have a terrific showing this year, until FEDex beat him in the final.

So is the old Roger Federer back? As far as I'm concerned, he never left. Sure, he was greatly affected when he got sick, but there are also guys out there who can give him a run for his money. That's what Novak Djokovic did in the semis of the Australian Open. And though Rafa had an easy time beating him in the French Open, it was a different story in Wimbledon. It wasn't a walk in the park for both of them, but the spaniard emerged as the winner.

It wasn't just because he had off-days. He can be beaten as well.

Pero sige na nga, I give it to Roger Federer. He truly is, one, if not, the greatest tennis player to have ever played the sport.

Say hello to the world's new number 1

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you...

the new number 1 tennis player in the world...RAFAEL NADAL!

Applause, applause.

Ok, it's not official yet, BUT, IT'S GUARANTEED! :P

Although, Novak Djokovic, world's number 3, ended current number 2, Rafael Nadal's 32-match winning streak with a 6-1, 7-5 semifinal victory (this morning, Manila time) at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati, Rafa is still guaranteed to claim the No. 1 ranking this month after reaching the semifinals with a 7-6(3), 6-1 victory over Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti.

Rafa's loss to Djokovic means he will officially take over number 1 for the first time in the South African Airways ATP Rankings on August 18. Had Rafa reached the final, he could have taken over the number 1 spot on August 11. And had he won the title, he could have become the number 1 in the world by Monday, August 4.

Oh well, it's just two weeks. And besides, he really needs to take some time off before he competes in the Beijing Olympics.

For now, let me just say to Federer:

"Your days are numbered. Move over Roger!"

King of Queens

Fresh from his French Open victory over Roger Federer, King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, was crowned King of Queens after beating Australian Open Champion Novak Djokovic, 7-6(8-6), 7-5 in the final of the Artois Championship at Queen's in London.


This is Rafa's first grasscourt title and now that he's won on this surface, I'm positive he'll have a pretty big chance of getting his first Wimbledon title this year, as well. Remember last year's final? Though he lost, it was not a lopsided victory for Federer. Rafa fought strong, it went up to 5 sets and lasted for I think about 3 hours and so. It could have gone either way. For all it's worth, last year's final proved that Rafa is also capabale of winning on grass. And now winning at Queens only goes to show that he really can do it.

So much for my being a Rafa-fanatic, hehehe.

Here are some related articles I've read in the net.
http://sports.indiatimes.com/Nadal_is_king_of_Queens/articleshow/3131675.cms

http://www.tennis-x.com/story/2008-06-15/h.php

Novak is King of the Australian Open

You are not mistaken!

It's not Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal.

Novak Djokovic, the world's number three, became Serbia's first Grand Slam singles champion, when he defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets, 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6(7-2) at Melbourne Park, Australia.


Good for him.

Novak turned pro in 2003. But if I remember correctly, the first time I saw him play on tv was in 2005. I instantly became a fan. Saw the potential in him (naks, feeling tennis guru naman ako, hehehe) and he was super cute (ayan, mas forte ko
yan :P)! I'm glad that he won his first grand slam, though, a bigger part of me wanted Tsonga to win. The Frenchman was the one who beat Rafa in the semis, while the Serbian won over Federer.

As you probably know by now, next to Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal is my next favorite tennis player. And you might have guessed that I am no Federer fanatic. I cheered for Novak during his match with Federer and was super happy when he beat the world's number one. But as my karma would have it, Rafa lost to Tsonga.

But I still cheered for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Final. Instead of wishing Novak to win so he could avenge the loss of Rafa, I had other twisted things in mind.

* Tsonga needs to win so that Rafa's loss would be easier to accept - at least he lost to the Champion, and
* Novak must not win because I don't want him to get closer and closer to the number 2 spot and take it away from Rafa. He can remain at number 3 all he wants, but he must not overtake Nadal in the rankings.

I am that selfish.

Hmm...did I say that I was glad Novak won? Wachutink?