Circle Closed

JD Blom

Roger Federer talks to the press at the Sony Ericsson Open on March 23, 2011 in Miami, Florida.

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He looked a bit like Kim Clijsters during and after her loss to Victoria Azarenka the other night: detached. Like parents who realize their children are more important than the thrasing they just endured between the lines.

Or perhaps, in Federer's case, he simply was demoralized. It was a bit sad to witness. Rafael Nadal made it seem far too easy. Same way he did 7 years ago.

If Rafa is indeed in Raja's head, it had to have happened instantly. I remember there were murmurings that Raja was sick that calm, humid night in Miami 7 years ago. I don't remember where those murmurings came from as I was posting about on tennis forums all over the place, but they seemed there to comfort those who needed to believe the outcome of the match would have been different had Raja been 100% healthy. A year later, the next time they played, Rafa took the first two sets from Raja in the Miami final, though he ultimately lost the match.

And so it was this storied rivalry began with Rafa winning the first four sets. Talk about setting a tone.

Tonight, safe to say, the circle closed.

Will they ever play another important match? Will Federer settle for third or fourth best? Will he win another Slam? Who can see the future?

Savannah said that 2011 would be all about Roger Federer.

I'm beginning to see her point.

Face Of The Day

Li Na in Elle China.

(Thanks, Savannah)

Confessions

Savannah has the story on the recently-retired former world No. 1 who admitted she, well, cheated on the grandest stages of tennis.

Bold Statements, Propaganda, and New Sponsors

What she said.

Quote For The Day

"I'm old enough to remember Willis Reed of the New York Knicks walking onto the court at Madison Square Garden with both knees taped to the max to tumultuous applause. That was how I felt when Venus not only walked back on court but picked up her racquet and resumed playing. She then proceeded to put on a tennis clinic. Visibly in pain she proceeded, not with flash, but with skill and knowledge to dismantle her upstart opponent who won the first set in a tiebreak that ended with Venus injury. Showing why she has won seven slam titles and playing with passion unseen for quite some time Venus won the second set 6-0.

"The final score was 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-4. Don't believe any bullshit you will hear or read about what happened last night. Venus trended worldwide on Twitter because of the dress. In the end the dress was a secondary story. The big story was that Venus started a match and she was going to finish it. Kind of makes that "tummy ache" from a few years ago laughable doesn't it?"--Savannah

Checking In

As many of you know, I have been MIA over the last several months because I was running an intense campaign for the Maine House of Representatives as an insurgent.

I ran alongside a popular, well-entrenched, three-term moderate incumbent. By the end of the campaign, we had done such a good job that word on the street suggested we would win.

Wasn't meant to be. The voters chose to give the incumbent his last two-year term with 60% of the vote.

I'm proud of our campaign and humbled by all the good will the people of my district bestowed upon me.

I had the time of my life.

Sorry I haven't been around to comment on so many of the intriguing stories in tennis, but I'll get back to that when the time comes.

I'd like to thank Savannah and MadProfessah for their contributions in my absence.

See you soon.

Quote For The Day

“Some people have that drive more than others who’ve been number one. Rafa doesn’t seem like he cares as much for number one, or he doesn’t show it.”--Roger Federer

(Thanks, Savannah)

Welcome Back, Savannah

That's right, folks. She's back.

On Savannah

Many of you have asked about Savannah in recent weeks. Life has thrown her some curve balls and until further notice, she has asked that I let you all know she's putting her blog on hiatus. She appreciates your readership but mostly your concerns about her well being. Keep her in your thoughts.

Weekend Wrap Up

Savannah's got it. I haven't even had a chance to read a tennis headline anywhere else.

I should be back to my regularly scheduled programming within a few days.

Have a great week everyone!

Face Of The Day

Reuters

Flavia Pennetta of Italy reacts to winning her match against Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the best match of the Day 7 at the US Open.

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Savannah has up a good review of Day 7 action featuring some interesting player quotes over in her world. My farm stand is swamped and I haven't even had coffee yet. I'll post an open thread soon as I get another moment.

She's Back

Some of you asked where Savannah was. She took a break from brief respite from blogging but is now back with a new entry in her Seen Around series.

Pure Poetry

Just in case any of you missed it, Savannah wrote a glorious preview of Roland Garros entitled "It's Time To Get Down and Dirty" that magnificently encapsulates this majestic sport we love so much.

Pure poetry.

Maria Returns

Savannah has the skinny.

Tornadoes And Bees

Seems the Madrid Open is dealing with a few mini plagues.

Oh, my.

Strike A Pose

Jelena Dokic, from an upcoming photo spread in an Australian sports magazine. Oh, the lawns. I can't wait....

She's looking a lot like a young Jennifer Jason Leigh, one of my favorite actresses. Savannah has more.

Life's But A Walking Shadow...

Not long ago, I characterized Roger Federer as a tragic figure. For one of our regulars, upon reading those words, the quarter dropped.

Just the other day, in the wake of smashing racquets, tossed water bottles, and delusional statements, another of our eloquent readers said the same thing.

Now, Savannah, in so many words, quoting Richard III and referencing MacBeth, says the same thing:

And then the walls came tumbling down. Handed a bagel at the 2008 French Open final. And the ultimate denouement, standing in royal attire while a guy with grass stains on his clothes held up the tennis equivalent of the Crown Jewels. Of course once the walls had crumbled the peons scrambled in each one taking their shot at the man who had been crowned king. Still the loyalists proclaimed that hard courts were sacrosanct, that no upstart could beat their god on them. When the guy in the sweat drenched tennis clothes exposed the king for all to see by outthinking and out playing him on the hard courts in the heat of a Melbourne summer there was no place left to hide. Could all of those people around him have been wrong? How could his status be taken from him by someone so unworthy? Isn't that what they had told him? Tears of anger and frustration couldn't be held back and flowed freely. "My horse, my horse, my kingdom for a horse."

(...)

I am truly sick and tired of reading the essays of those who created the FedGod who are now trying to tell him everything he needs to do in order to beat the upstart and regain his glory. They range in tone from maudlin to bathos. But even as they write these essays they're already looking for a white knight, someone more to their liking who can take the throne. And who is still by his side, as loyal as she was at the beginning? The same woman of whom it was, and is still being said, is akin to Lady Macbeth, another Shakespearian character.

Bathos. I love that word.

Yes, it's National Poetry Month after all. Shakespeare all over the place.

Silliness

It appears that the Russian tennis press is stuck on stupid.

Selective Outrage

Savannah vs. Martin Rogers.

Watch the match if you haven't already. And then judge.

And if you can't sit through the whole match, at least watch the first two of the 13 segments embedded here.





And here's the end:



Post-match interview:

All The Rage

The International Herald Tribune looks at women's tennis in Gotham City. And Savannah has posted her pictures.