PROGRESSION

Roger Federer set the bar for contemporary tennis.  On the backs of the giants that came before him, he built a legacy that elevated tennis to new heights.  He evolved the game.  Rafael Nadal propelled the sport even further by finding ways to defeat Roger Federer.  And now Novak Djokovic takes tennis to a stratosphere it has never been before.

Perhaps we are too quick to declare a present day event or player as the "Greatest of All Time".  But, in the case of what we witnessed last night in Rod Laver Arena at the Finals of the Australian Open, it's nearly impossible to resist the label.  The match set the standard as the longest Grand Slam Final ever played at just under six hours, with Djokovic defeating Nadal 7-5 in the fifth and deciding set.  Those are the numbers.  But, as always in sports, the story goes much deeper than the statistics.  We saw two perfectly-conditioned athletes, who have trained their entire lives for the moment, break through boundaries and ceilings to discover new limits to their immense potential.  Both champions were forced to confront their limitations, then find solutions to the problems created by those limitations.  The mind, the body, and the spirit were each put to the ultimate test.  On display for the world to see, these men of men plunged the depths of their souls to mine reserves they never knew they had.  Together, they redefined what was possible.  They transcended tennis.

One may read this spiritual analysis of a tennis match with cynicism and say it's only a game.  I contend it was far more than that.  Combining the skill of the classic Borg-McEnroe encounters with the will and determination of the John Isner-Nicolas Mahut marathon at Wimbledon last year, this Djokovic-Nadal match will stand the test of time as a vivid reminder of why human beings compete against each other.  In short, to see what they are made of.  

And There There Were None

Big John Isner battled bravely, but was outplayed and ousted from the tournament by Feliciano Lopez in yet another five-setter.  There are now zero American men alive in the Australian Open.  This is the first time in the Open Era it has happened before the Fourth Round.  It's a bit sad.  But, I'm resisting the urge to panic, and brushing it off to a bad trip to the other side of the world.  I suspect the narrative will be significantly different in the Spring, on the home courts of Indian Wells and Miami.

Not Such a G'day, Mate

The dominant subject of the day in my tiny corner of this vast universe has been American tennis.  The Yanks got sunk yesterday Down Under.  Three American men lost their second round matches -- Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, and Donald Young.  The day was saved only by the heroics by John Isner, in yet another marathon match that saw him defeat David Nalbandian 10-8 in the 5th set.  And, truth be told, Isner was the beneficiary of two horrendous errors by the chair umpire on the same serve, which rattled Nalbandian and turned the match at 8-8 in that deciding set.  The timing couldn't have been worse, the calls couldn't have been more unfair.  Isner's leg was cramping, his shoulders were drooping.  Perhaps Big John was playing possum, but it sure looked like the Argentinian was getting the better of him.  All that was required to salvage any shred of hope for the American men in Australia.  Andy Roddick is still alive in the tournament, but nobody really fancies his chances of him bringing home the trophy.  After watching Fish get run off in straight sets by Columbian Alejandro Falla, and then Donald Young get smoked by qualifier Lukas Lacko, I just couldn't stand to watch Sam Querrey battle Australian phenom Bernard Tomic.  Plus, it was already two in the morning on the West Coast, and I had to be up early for a morning meeting... about American tennis.

In order to develop future tennis champions in the United States, the way the game is perceived in America needs to change.  Soccer and tennis have similar problems.  Internationally, the two sports dominate media coverage and attract the best athletes.  Our greatest American athletes play football, basketball, and baseball.  When Tiger Woods is playing golf, tennis ranks as the sixth most popular sport in the States.  That's the inherent issue facing the recruitment of talented kid athletes to choose tennis over all those other sports.

I propose that tennis needs to be made cooler in America.  The game, phenomenal as it is, must be marketed better to the masses.  ESPN and Tennis Channel combine to do a fine and thorough job of airing the ATP and WTA tours, rightly focusing on Grand Slams.  But, for a sport that is going on pretty close to all year round, rarely does tennis register on the radar of the American sports world.  I allow that perhaps the game has found its natural place in the pecking order, but I refuse to accept that it's set it stone.  I believe television is the proper medium to transform the image of tennis of America.  We can use television to get to know the players better -- to connect with them -- to vicariously live the lifestyle -- to understand their commitment and sacrifice -- to get a much deeper appreciation for their constant pursuit of greatness.  If we can manage even half that, we have a chance of drawing talented young athletes to the incredible game of tennis.

Once we reel them in, of course, we have to find better ways to teach them.  But that's a subject better left for another day.


UPDATE: Andy Roddick had to retire from his match last night with Lleyton Hewitt after pulling his groin.  He was trailing two sets to one at the time.  Oh, and Ryan Sweeting was up two sets to one on number 5 seed, David Ferrer, but lost in 5.  That leaves John Isner as the only American man left standing in the third round of the Australian Open.  Quite a sad state of affairs.

OPEN FOR DISCUSSION

During the U.S. Open, I had an ongoing email chat with a lovely young female friend of mine. We'll call her Anastasia (even though nobody else calls her that). The two of us have decidedly different rooting interests, but share a passion for tennis.   Our back-and-forth went a little something like this:

RE: WEEK 1

Me: What's up with all the rain at the Open? The schedule is getting pretty messed up. Could make for an incredibly dense day of tennis tomorrow. I still think it's Djokovic and Serena hoisting the trophies...

Anastasia: I do not like this rain, not one bit. Now we're going to miss some of the action, and the quality of play will be compromised. Boo! Get a roof built already! I'm sticking with Roger. I think he can do it! As for the women, I could care less. Did you see Serena's interview about the foot fault at the beginning of the tournament? She has no class, and she's kind of an idiot.

Anastasia: Is it obvious I don't like her? :)

RE: WEEK 2

Me: So, what'd you think? I'm sure you were quite pleased Serena went down. How'd you feel about Djokovic crushing Nadal's spirit? I thought it was a great day for tennis (Monday Men's Final), no matter what the outcome.

Anastasia: Indeed, it was a great tournament, for sure. Obviously, I was crushed when Novak took out Fed, but the men's final was a great match! I'd be happy if Djokovic won the next 7 majors, as it will only cement Roger's Grand Slam record :) He fucking deserved it, too. He's in incredible shape...

Me: Roger was so close. That one go-for-broke shot, and Djokovic's reaction to that shot, changed the energy on that court. From that point on, it was all mental. Fed's game is still right there. He should have won. It was his. He would've beaten him in the semis of the French and the U.S. Open, and completely wrecked the Djoker's dream season. Instead, Djokovic takes 3 out of 4, all the Masters Series titles, and is etched in history. Djokovic owns Nadal. Nadal owns Federer. And then there's Djokovic/Federer, which is clearly a toss up.

Me: This is a Golden Age of men's tennis. The bar keeps getting raised. Technology and fitness have revolutionized the game. The talent pool is much deeper than it's ever been. And the game is being played at a higher level than it's ever been played. And, yet, these three astounding athletes at the top have collectively been dominating the game for years now. They are so good a player as supremely talented as Andy Murray can't even win a single major.

OPEN WOUND

I am too emotionally attached to write objectively about tennis.  In almost every match, I have a rooting interest.  Perhaps it's simply a matter of embracing the fact that I write about tennis as a fan rather than a journalist.  I'm not even sure why I fancy myself as some sort of budding tennis journalist.  I am a fiction writer.  One who desperately wants to connect himself to the sport of tennis.  Of course, one day, I would love to have access to the players for interviews, and have the opportunity to be on the "inside" of the game I love, but really, if I'm being completely forthcoming, I want good seats to as much live tennis as possible.

Unabashadly, I am a fan of Rafael Nadal.  He is the guy I root for against all other men in tennis.  For me, cheering for Nadal is much like cheering for my favorite sports team.  I am elated when they win, crushed when they lose.  This has been a devastating year to be a Nadal fan.  Sometime in the Spring, Novak Djokovic figured out how to be Rafael Nadal.  The Djoker conquered Rafa in Indian Wells, then outlasted him in Miami (a match I was lucky enough to attend).  Once the clay court season began, you figured Nadal would have the edge on his favorite surface.  But Djokovic defeated him in Madrid and in Rome.  That was four Masters Series finals in a row.  Surely, Rafa would find a way to avenge those losses on the lawns of Wimbledon.  But, alas, he did not.  Djokovic took his first Wimbledon crown, and Nadal had to admit the Serb was in his head.  Even when Roger Federer was dominating the sport, Nadal still had a head-to-head edge against him.  You never got the sense that Nadal was incredibly frustrated being number 2 in the world because he kept beating the guy at number 1.  Things are different now.  Keenly aware of that heading into the U.S. Open Final, Nadal never had a chance.  He fought bravely, as he always does on every point of every match, but he still couldn't solve the puzzle.  6 finals, 6 losses for Nadal.

This was Novak Djokovic's year.  With only two losses -- one to Roger Federer in the semifinals of the French Open, and one to Andy Murray in the finals of the Cincinnati Masters -- Djokovic can now lay claim to one of, if not the greatest season a man has ever had on the tennis tour.  Rafael Nadal has nothing to be ashamed about.  But he won't soon shake the disappointment of being the second best player in the world, unable to defeat the only man ahead of him.  Honestly, I'm not even playing and it's going to take me some time to get over it.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

The U.S. Open is underway!  Unfortunatlely, I am currently holding down a full-time job and cannot plant myself on the couch and flick through 6 courts of coverage on DirecTV and ESPN2.  Instead, I must be content with watching what I can during the day on ESPN3, then scrolling through many glorious hours of tennis on the DVR later tonight.

I've written this before, but I truly feel more alive during Grand Slam tennis tournaments.  Rarely do I get the opportunity to attend in person.  But when the four majors are in progress, tennis is on the big stage.  Anyone who cares at all about tennis is watching, and people who don't normally pay attention to tennis are more likely to sit up and take notice.  That is especially true here in America when the U.S. Open is in session.  Today, I am particularly appreciative that this tournament started as scheduled, one day after a giant hurricane swept through the New York Metropolitan Area.

BROKEN?

 REUTERS - John Sommers II

The Round of 16 marathon match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco just ended.  Three tiebreaker sets, with Nadal winning the first and third, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. But it wasn't pretty.  In those decisive moments when we are used to seeing Rafa raise his level of play, he was tentative and unsteady.  Verdasco's inconsistency prevented him from taking advantage of a vulnerable Nadal and beat him for the first time.  Nadal is now 12-0 lifetime against Verdasco.

Moments ago, Mardy Fish defeated Richard Gasquet in straight sets.  Nadal and Fish will square off in the quarterfinals.  The way both guys are playing right now, I would give the edge to Fish in that match.

I hope I'm wrong about this, but I'm getting the feeling that Novak Djokovic broke Rafael Nadal.  With the Djoker beating Nadal in 5 finals this year -- on hard court, clay, and the grassy lawn of Wimbledon -- Rafa's confidence seems to have taken a major hit.  The only times we've seen this from Nadal previously, he was dealing with physical issues.  With a pair of burnt fingers and a foot injury, that could be the case this time, too.  If not, then Djokovic has truly done a number on the former #1.  Nadal was lucky to escape with a victory today.  But he'll need a lot more than luck to defend his title at the U.S. Open. 

THE DJOKER AND THE CHOKER

Novak Djokovic knows how to win.  As a matter of fact, it seems like he's forgotten how to lose.  Save for one match -- a French Open semifinal against a determined Roger Federer -- Djokovic has not lost this calendar year.  And we're in the middle of August.  It's mind-boggling how truly dominant the Serb has been.  Mardy Fish played an excellent match in the Rogers Cup final yesterday, but Novak found a way to win.  Rafael Nadal did not play poorly in any of the 5 finals contested with Novak this year, but Nadal lost all of them.  Could it really be possible that Djokovic could win out, including the U.S. Open, and end the season 1 semifinal loss away from a Grand Slam and a perfect tennis season?  Seems utterly unfathomable.  But the the level he has achieved since the Davis Cup last year, with all the confidence in the world and the unstoppable game to match, it's actually within the realm of possibility.  At this moment, it is not hyperbole to say that Novak Djokovic is putting together the greatest tennis season ever.

I, on the other hand, cannot find a way to win a match.  I am on a personal winless streak that dates back as far as I can remember.  I'm sure I've actually won a match or two in recent years, but it seems like I've mastered the art of losing.  I hadn't played tennis in over a month until Saturday, when I played with one of my regular hitting partners.  He possesses an infinitely better serve and cleaner groundstrokes than I do.  I had never taken a set off him before.  I played a nearly-flawless first set.  Instead of going for power serves, I spun my serve in on the first and second.  I returned incredibly.  I was relaxed and aggressive at the same time.  I won the set, 6-0.  I went up 2-0 in the second.  And then I collapsed.  My spin serve stopped working.  My groundies found the net.  I must've tightened up, though I didn't realize it at the time.  After winning the first 8 games, I lost 12 of the next 13.  Admittedly, he started serving better and making less errors.  But the loss was all on me.  My woefully inconsistent serve let me down, and my mental fragility on the court prevented me from pulling myself out of a tailspin.  I was left with the empty feeling that comes with a bad loss.  But I was also left with something positive... the knowledge that I have the ability to put together a perfect set.  I did it.  I proved I can do it.  Now I have to get out of my own way and let me best game take center stage.  After the match, I half-jokingly suggesting to my hitting partner that I need to see a tennis shrink.  Now I'm not quite so sure there was even a half joke in there.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Wimbledon is underway!  I feel alive again.

Rafael Nadal is already through the first round with a straight sets victory over American journeyman, Michael Russell.  No major upsets so far. Other winners on the day include Monfils, Berdych, Gasquet, Wawrinka, Fish, and Raonic.

The back end of this tournament sets up very nicely once again.  If form holds, Nadal and Murray will meet in one semifinal, Djokovic and Federer in the other.  With those four playing such superb tennis, why root for upsets when we have those potential monumental matchups to look forward to...

Every tennis fan knows by now that John Isner and Nicolas Mahut will meet again in the first round tomorrow.  Highly doubtful they can recreate the insanity of last year's neverending story, but after serendipitously drawing each other again, it'll be interesting to watch no matter what.

London calling!

AIN'T IT GRAND

When one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments is taking place in the world, my life is richer.  If I'm not working, which I prefer not to do during the Majors if I can help it, I can camp out on the couch and spend a televised day in Melbourne or Paris or London or New York.  A phenomenal feature on DirecTV allows me to choose which court to watch, if the network coverage is not showing the match I want to see.  If I happen to be working during a particular Slam, my DVR makes sure I have wall-to-wall tennis waiting for me when I get home.  No matter what's going on in my life at the time, I feel busier during a Grand Slam.  There's more to do.  I feel energized, alive.

But when a Grand Slam ends, a massive canyon-sized hole is created in my world.  That sensation came over me once again yesterday, one day after the French Open concluded its annual clay soiree.  I woke up with no clay court tennis in progress.  Nothing to catch up on.  No match to anticipate later in the day. Instead, it was just a Monday.  Granted, the grass court season began right away in England, but I wasn't ready for a Wimbledon tuneup quite yet.  Although, I must say, the thought of Wimbledon just a few weeks away will make it a lot easier to get through this tough transition.  In fact, on the tennis calendar, these two Slams are by far the closest together.  Mercifully, my melancholy and misery will be short lived.  But before I go back to wallowing, let's review the thrilling events from the weekend at Roland Garros.

On Friday, Rafael Nadal took care of business with a hard-fought three-set victory over a game but overmatched Andy Murray.  Their clash was but a mere amuse bouche to an incredible meal, for later that day, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played an instant classic.  With the number one ranking, a ton of pride, and a shot at the title on the line, Nole and Fed put on a shotmaking show.  To watch Federer move around the court and strike the ball so cleanly, you would never know that he has been slumping this year.  You would never know that tennis folks have been beginning to mourn his inevitable decline.  Fed looked every bit the 16-time Grand Slam Champion against the hottest player on tour in Novak Djokovic, who was riding one of the great win streaks in tennis history.  Djokovic seemed to be affected by the moment.  With a four-day layoff between matches due to a walkover in the quarters, his timing was off in the first set, and Federer took full advantage.  But Nole has been playing so well, struggling through a set meant that he would force Roger to win it in a tiebreaker.  Federer kept the momentum going in the second set, Djokovic let down a bit.  Fed won the set 6-3 and took a commanding two sets to love lead.  But the Djoker has too much confidence in himself and his game these days to roll over like he may have done in the past.  He fought back, broke Roger, vigilently held serve, and took the third set 6-3.  The fourth set produced some spectacular tennis, with so much riding on the result and neither man willing to budge.  Fittingly, it came down to a tiebreaker in near darkness. If Fed won it, the match was over.  If Djoker won it, they would return to the court on Saturday morning to play a winner-takes-all fifth set.  Echoes of Federer's loss to Nadal at Wimbledon with darkness encroaching reverberated throughout Stade Roland Garros.  But Roger was up to the task this time.  He gained the advantage, withstood every effort by Nole to level the match, and won the tiebreaker before nightfall.  When Federer finally took match point, he proudly wagged one finger in the air, as if to say, "You all forgot for a second that I was the greatest, didn't you?"  And then he screamed the kind of cathartic scream that comes from prolonged periods of intensity ending in sweet relief.  The scream allowed us a rare peek behind the polished veneer and into the burning heart of the fiercest of competitors.  Federer had vanquished Djokovic.  The streak was done.  But Roger was not.

Saturday provided us with a Women's Final that may have lacked star power but was not short on intrigue.  The defending champion, Francesca Schiavone, was looking to repeat the magic that won her the title last year and prove she was no one-Slam wonder.  With the absence of Justin Henin, Schiavone has surprisingly stepped in and filled the void as the tour's clay court dame.  But Li Na (or Na Li) was not about to hand her the trophy.  After reaching the Australian Open earlier this year but falling to Kim Clijsters in her bid to become China's first Grand Slam winner, Li was motivated to make history.  Schiavone etched her name into the tennis history books by beating Sam Stosur in last year's French final, taking the first Grand Slam title for the women of Italy.  Li Na came out firing in the first set, undaunted by the magnitude of the moment.  She hit the ball harder and crisper and prevented Schiavone from finding her rhythm.  The Chinese woman secured the first set 6-4 and went up a break in the second.  Schiavone played much better tennis in the second set, getting to net as much as possible and expertly angling her volleys.  When Li Na served at 4-3, Schiavone's aggressive nature prevailed and she broke back to level the set.  The Italian then seemed to gain the momentum.  She went up 6-5.  With Li Na serving to stay in the set, an overruled line call swung Uncle Mo back to the Chinese player.  She held to force a tiebreaker.  With history on the line, she didn't blink.  In fact, she skunked Schiavone 7-love in the breaker, then fell onto her back in celebration.  The crowd showed their appreciation for the quality of the match and Li Na's tremendous achievement at 29-years-old.  She can now forever boast that she won a Grand Slam title.  And China will never forget her.

Sunday brought us another treat -- the 8th Grand Slam Final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The two living legends have played in more Grand Slam Finals against each other than any duo in the history of men's tennis.  Going into the match, Rafa was 5-2 in finals against Roger.  Nadal won four meetings at the French and one at Wimbledon, Federer won two at Wimbledon.  With respect to Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, Federer and Nadal can lay claim to the greatest rivalry ever on the men's side.  (Evert and Navratilova obviously own that distinction on the women's side.)  Nadal also needed to win the match to retain his number one ranking.  If he lost, Novak Djokovic would take the top spot in tennis away from him and Federer would take his crown.  But the sensational Spaniard would not be denied.  Though Federer played fantastic tennis to make him earn it.  Fed went up 5-2 in the first and looked good doing it.  But as he has so often in the past, Nadal flipped a switch and won the next 5 games to take the set.  Nadal went up a break in the second and served for the set.  A brief but hard rain fell from the sky and caused a delay (the first of the tournament).  When play resumed, Federer stormed back, broke Nadal, and forced a tiebreaker.  But Nadal rebounded by taking a 4-0 lead and cruising in the breaker to win the second set and go up two sets to love.  Again in the third set, Nadal went up a break.  At 4-2, it looked to be over.  But Federer dug deep into his champion heart and refused to give in.  He broke Nadal twice and won the set 7-5.  There was a glimmer of hope in the Federer camp.  But it was brief.  Nadal dominated the fourth set, breaking Roger repeatedly and closing it out 6-1.  When it was over, Rafa dropped to his knees then exchanged a warm embrace with Roger at the net.  Uncle Toni stood and screamed "Vamos!" three times.  This may have been the 6th time Nadal has won this title, but it seemed just as sweet to them as the first.  And for tennis fans, we got to experience these two magnificent players produce the kind of tennis we always wish for when they do battle.  Though the fourth set itself may have been anticlimactic, the men's final satisfyingly capped off an epic three days of tennis.

Of course, I wished I was in Paris to witness it all firsthand, but I can honestly say there was no shortage of emotion and enjoyment while watching from the comfort of my own home.  To me, there is nothing like Grand Slam tennis.  Although, to fight off depression, I'll probably tune in tonight to watch my Miami Heat go for a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.  I guess that'll help a little.

EL REY

B'DAY ON CLAY

Rafa Nadal downs Andy Murray, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to reach the French Open Final.  It'll be the 6th time in 7 years he plays for the title.  Now we have to wait and see who will be across the net from him...

Yes, I'm well aware this picture is from last year, but I wanted to pay tribute to the man on his birthday. Many many more Happy Birthdays to you, Rafael Nadal.  All together... Vamos!

THE FINAL FOUR

Rafa Nadal vs. Andy Murray
Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic

Nadal tries to reach his 6th French Final on his 25th birthday.
Murray tries to spoil it all for Rafa.

Djokovic tries to reach #1 in the world for the first time and continue his win streak.
Federer tries to spoil it all for Nole.

The only thing that can ruin a day like this is NBC.  Because the network does not like to preempt The Today Show under any circumstance, here on the West Coast we get the French Open Men's Semifinal on tape delay.  And... we only get one match in a 3-hour window.  All tournament long, The Tennis Channel and ESPN2 have been providing wall-to-wall live coverage from Roland Garros.  But here we are at The Final Four of the French, and we only get one of the two matches, and it's on tape.  Lame.  Truly lame.  The Tennis Channel is replaying both semis immediately after NBC's coverage is over.  I think.  NBC is scheduled to show tennis from 11am-2pm and the Tennis Channel from 2pm-9pm.  But what if the one semifinal match NBC shows is an epic five-hour five-setter?  Does the Tennis Channel have to hold it's replay?  Is it possible they could both be showing the same match at the same time?  Either way, it really won't matter to me.  I'll be at work by then and there's really no way I'm going to be able to avoid seeing the results until I get home in the evening.  So, big thanks for effing up my favorite day of the French Open.  Merci beaucoup, NBC.

On my personal wish list, first and foremost, I want to see amazing tennis with all four men playing at the highest level.  I'd like to see Novak beat Roger.  I'd like to see Rafael beat Andy.  And, of course, I want to see Nadal beat Djokovic in the final on Sunday.  Thus, Nole would be the new #1 but Rafa would still be the King of Clay.

Feliz Cumpleanos, Rafa!  Vamos!

UPDATE:  The Tennis Channel is playing the Nadal-Murray match live this morning!  Thus, I say in a non-sarcastic way... Merci beaucoup, Tennis Channel.

THE BEAUTY OF THE GAME

Aranxta Rus

There exists a very real phenomenon for men watching women's tennis... We tend to root for the better looking player.  Some might call it male chauvinism, some may scream sexism.  Either way, it's the stone cold truth.  Of course, there are always exceptions.  Martina Navratilova earned legions of fans during her monumental rivalry with Chris Evert, even though Evert was clearly the babe of the pair.  However, Martina and other, shall we say, less cute girls on the tour need to become champions to garner the kind of attention given to the naturally lovely young lasses of the game.

At one end of the stunning spectrum is Anna Kournikova.  At one time, she was the top junior player in the world.  When she turned pro, the Internet went wild with photos of the Russian beauty who looked poised to rise to the top.  But she never won a single professional tournament.  Instead, she used her brief and relatively unsuccessful tennis career as a springboard into superstardom.  She modeled, she endorsed products, she sold posters.  She became a household name, nearly synonymous with the very idea of a tennis babe.  However, beauty fades, and so will Anna Kournikova from the memories of tennis fans.

The other gorgeous end of the spectrum is Maria Sharapova.  Shaza represents the perfect storm in women's tennis -- a drop dead gorgeous Grand Slam champion.  And that's why she is the highest paid female athlete in the world.  The Williams sisters, each attractive in their own right, take up the #2 and #3 slots on the same list for the same reasons -- fashionable and stylish with a trophy room full of major titles.  Over the years, young up-and-coming teenagers, think Tracy Austin and Chris Evert, have captured the imaginations and affections of the tennis-viewing public.  It's hard not to pull for the adorable girl who is fighting with all her heart.  With all apologies to accomplished players like Svetlana Kuznetsova, Amelie Mauresmo, and Nadia Petrova, when looking for a rooting interest in a tennis match, the heart wants what the heart wants.  Admittedly, that sentiment is from the point-of-view of a heterosexual male who loves the game of tennis and loves beautiful women.  I leave open the possibility that others may disagree with me on who is hot and who is not.  After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  But, as spectators, we should all admit that physical appearance plays a huge part in stirring our emotions when watching two women do battle on the tennis court.

Gisela Dulko

Two of my favorite tennis beauties pulled off major upsets in the last couple of days.  Gisela Dulko, a tour veteran, knocked out last year's finalist and number 8 seed, Samantha Stosur in a three-set battle earlier today.  Over the years, Dulko has had much more success as a doubles player, but owns her share of singles upsets as well.  My family and I first fell for her during a night match against Jelena Jankovic in Miami.  My mother and grandmother joined me in rooting on Gigi to upset the sassy Serb, and Dulko did not disappoint.  Today's win over Sam Stosur has to rank up there with the biggest wins of Gisela's decade-long career.  She may be a petite Argentinian who seems overmatched against the taller and bigger girls on the circuit, but she fights hard and looks good doing it.  Kudos to her on slaying a giant.  Hopefully, she can keep the momentum going and make a deep run at this year's French Open.

Yesterday, the ravishing Aranxta Rus stunned one of the tournament favorites and number 2 seed, Kim Clijsters. It was by far the biggest win of Rus' young career.  The twenty-year-old Dutch woman is just starting to find her form on tour.  As the above picture can attest to, she's tall and tan and quite beautiful.  She first appeared on my radar two years ago in Miami.  I watched her play another young cutie on the rise, Magdalena Rybarikova, on an outer court with about seven other people in the stands.  The girls slugged it out in the first round clash, with Rybarikova squeezing out the victory, 7-5 in the third.  I found myself rooting for Aranxta, partly because Magdalena seemed a little bratty, but mainly because Rus was better looking.  After the match, Rus was waiting for her coach, standing by herself on the grounds, and I couldn't  resist the temptation to tell her she battled hard.  Though she was distraught after losing, she thanked me and I went on my way.  Since then, I've followed both Rus and Rybarikova as they've struggled to rise through the ranks (Rybarikova is currently #62, Rus is #114).  Both players seem to have the potential to combine their talent and looks and find stardom on the tour, but it's a tough game.  Most girls don't make it.  I love Kim Clijsters, and often root for her despite the fact that she's not that hot, but it was extremely satisfying to see Aranxta Rus shock the tournament by breaking through and upsetting Kimmie.  Now the rest of the tennis world gets to make the acquaintance of this captivating young girl from the Netherlands that caught my attention on a sunny day in South Florida.

Congratulations to Aranxta Rus and Gisela Dulko.  Beautiful wins.

THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN

Though both the official rankings and unofficial clay court power rankings still have Rafael Nadal at the top, Novak Djokovic is now the best tennis player in the world.  Including two Davis Cup wins late in 2010 to help secure the trophy for Serbia, Djokovic has won 39 straight matches.  He won the year's first major in Australia and has not lost in 2011.  With his most recent victory on Sunday, he has also beaten Nadal in four straight Masters Series finals -- Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome.  

Djokovic has drastically improved his serve (the only real weakness in his game) and exponentially improved his physical conditioning.  The Novak Djokovic who struggled with breathing problems and retired early from tough matches no longer exists.  The current Novak Djokovic seems unbeatable.  His movement around the court is incredible, outrunning the fleet-footed Nadal, who is regarded as one of the most athletic men to ever play the game.  

Djokovic's shotmaking and decision-making have been near perfect.  And most importantly, his arrogance has turned to self-belief.  With confidence oozing out of every pore in his body, one can easily read in his demeanor that his mind is strong, that his will is unshakable, and that he somehow he knows that he is going to win every match he plays.  John McEnroe, who holds the longest win streak to start a calendar year (42 matches in 1984), says he thinks Djokovic's streak is already more impressive than his own.  Given the deeper pool of talent and physical demands of the modern game, McEnroe believes Nole's run is unprecedented.  And when John McEnroe talks tennis, everyone listens, because he may just be the game's smartest commentator and biggest advocate.

Sunday's final in Rome was a spectacular match.  Though the scoreline might indicate a fairly routine 6-4, 6-4 victory for Novak Djokovic, it was anything but.  From the opening serve of the match, Nole and Rafa played tennis of the highest quality.  Only a few key points separated them.  But almost all of those big points went to Djokovic.  Rafael Nadal appeared frustrated at times, unable to come up with the goods when he needed it most and unable to put the ball past Djokovic's amazing defense.  With loses in four finals in some of the biggest tournaments of the year outside the Slams, Nadal knows he is no longer king of the mountain.  In interviews, he admitted that losing the number one ranking is a forgone conclusion.  Djokovic will most likely take over the top spot after the French Open, regardless of who wins the title.

Personally, I feel for Rafael Nadal.  He spent so much time at #2 when Roger Federer was the dominant man in the sport, and now he finds himself right back in that familiar position on the second step of the podium, only this time with Novak Djokovic standing on the top rung.  All this is happening at a time when Federer's considerable talents have waned and planted him firmly in the #3 slot.  Both Nadal and Djokovic have been defeating Roger with relative ease this season. This should be Nadal's time to dominate tennis.  But last year may have been the closest Rafael gets in his career to a stranglehold on the men's game.  He won 3 out of 4 Grand Slams, and gave it a great run in Australia to make it 4 in a row (though it would not have been a "Calendar Slam").  Despite a slight sadness for Rafa, because he is the player I root for the hardest since Andre Agassi retired, I am grateful that tennis's next great rivalry is upon us.  Though Djokovic has won all four of the Masters finals they've played against each other in the past few months, each of the matches has been a hotly contested affair.  I was lucky enough to attend the final in Miami, and witnessed a stupendous duel between two jawdroppingly awesome players.  As has been the case in their battles, a mere two or three points decided the match, with the Serb just a little bit better than the Spaniard when it mattered most.

As I imagine Uncle Toni will do, I would tell Rafa to keep his head up if I had the chance to speak to him directly.  He is a brilliant striker of the ball and a master tactician.  He is a champion who has been knocked down before and gotten up to answer the bell for the next round.  Djokovic has defeated him two times in a row on clay, but both of those matches were best 2 out of 3.  At the French, Nole is going to have to win 3 sets to wrest the title from Nadal, who is considered one of, if not the greatest clay court player to ever swing a racquet.  It is a credit to Djokovic and the level he has raised his game to that the feat even seems possible.  As a fan of Nadal, I can only hope he finds a way to crack the code and exact revenge.  As a fan of tennis, I eagerly anticipate the prospect of another monumental clash that will surely be etched in the annals of the sport's history.  Either way, I can't lose.

DROP SHOTS

Some kick serves and stab volleys from the week in tennis...

• At ESPN.com, Ravi Ubha charts the state of tennis turbulence in Power Rankings.

• Chris Chase plays twenty, er, five questions over at Busted Racquet.

• Mike Greenberg teams with Chris Evert and attempts to qualify for the U.S. Open.

• Peter Bodo dissects the super secret surface the U.S. wants to play Spain on in Davis Cup.

• Serena Williams displays a trio of drastically different looks.

Game.  Set.  Match.

WINDS OF CHANGE

Roger Federer is out of the Monte Carlo Masters.  Jurgen Melzer got him 6-4, 6-4 in the quarters on a windy day that kicked clay in the air and made playing conditions extremely difficult.  Melzer, seeded seventh in the tournament, now moves on to play fourth-seeded David Ferrer in the semis, while Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray square off in the other semifinal.

Despite the fact that Federer had never lost to Melzer before today, when I took a look at the draw yesterday I thought out of the four quarters, Melzer had the best shot at pulling off an upset.  I didn't know the Austrian would win, and probably wouldn't have picked him, but I thought he at least had a chance. In fact, I figured the other three matches would be relatively easy wins for the favorites -- Nadal over Ljubicic, Murray over Gil, and Ferrer over Troicki.  As it turned out, they were all straight-setters. It speaks volumes that I pegged Roger Federer, arguably the greatest men's tennis player in the history of the game, as the vulnerable one.  That's just the way it feels these days. When I saw him play in Miami a couple of weeks ago, the joy didn't seem to be there.  At his best, which was almost always, his play seemed effortless, as smooth as silk.  Now it looks like a chore.  I really do hope it's simply a bad patch and he'll rebound to challenge for more major titles.  But, taking into account his age (he'll be 30 in August), the absurd length of time he dominated the game, and the way he has fared recently against Rafa and Nole, it's getting harder and harder to ignore the reality that Roger Federer hit his peak and we're now witnessing the denoument of his monolithic career.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

On the long-running television reality/game show, "Survivor", they lean heavily on the slogan, "Outwit.  Outplay.  Outlast."  In yesterday's epic clash on Key Biscayne, Novak Djokovic survived Rafael Nadal.  Over at Tennis World, Peter Bodo described the match as a bar room brawl.

Outwit:
Djokovic used the drop shot to exceptional effect in this match.  With Rafa's speed, no player is going to win too many points on clean drop shot winners.  But Djokovic used the dropper to draw Nadal into the net and set up passing shots.  When Djokovic decided to break the pattern of punishing groundstrokes, Nadal was unable to make him pay.  As Bodo points out, this match was not necessarily about tactics.  In the "outwit" category, Djokovic's use of the drop shot was the only clear advantage either player gained.

Outplay:
Throwing out a very shaky start from the Serb which saw Nadal storm to a 5-1 lead in the first set, Nadal seemed nearly incapable of hitting the ball by Djokovic.  Nadal usually finds angles that stretch the geometry of the court and take other players so far out of position they leave the court wide open for Nadal to rip winners.  Every long rally in this match seemed to go Djokovic's way.  And it visibly took its toll on Rafa, as he showed more frustration on the court than we're used to seeing.

The Spaniard also did not help his cause with his serve.  He certainly didn't have enough confidence to use the serve as a weapon, which he did in winning the U.S. Open last September.  Yesterday, his serve wasn't even good enough to gain him the advantage from point to point.  He was forced to work in every service game.  Six double faults in a match is way out of character for the steady serving Nadal.  His serve let him down when he needed it most in the tiebreaker.

Outlast:
I can't remember ever seeing Rafael Nadal more exhausted than his opponent.  Djokovic, who has had breathing issues in the past when the weather heated up, held strong during the humid Miami afternoon.  The heat, humidity, and tension of the three hour and twenty-one minute wore on Nadal.  When the match was on the line during the third set tiebreaker, Nadal earned a mini-break and served at 2-1.  Djokovic won yet another long rally and Nadal appeared spent.  He toweled off his entire body and took some extra extra time, but double faulted on the very next point.  Djokovic now served with a 3-2 lead and built it into a 6-2 lead.  Nadal fought off a couple of match points, but couldn't hold out any longer.  Djokovic ripped a winner to take the match and end the brutality.

Thus, Novak Djokovic, undoubtedly the hottest player on tour and the best on the hard courts, outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted the champion and beast that is Rafael Nadal.  The tribe may not have spoken, but the Serb certainly did.

IT'S ON

For the first time in 6 years on American soil (or at least the surface of a tennis court), Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will battle it out.

Yesterday morning, Gilles Simon woke up with a stiff neck.  Yesterday afternoon, Roger Federer moved through to the Sony Ericsson Open semis.  Simon tried to make a go of it, but after three woeful games, it was readily apparent he was in no condition to play tennis.  He retired from the match and handed Fed a very easy victory. 

Last night, Rafael Nadal come out on fire in his match with Tomas Berdych.  He smoked the ball all over the court and convincingly won the first set 6-2.  In the second set, his game went off the rails a bit, he got some treatment on his shoulder, and Berdych took control.  Berdych cruised to a 4-0 lead and won the set 6-3.  Berdych had an opportunity to break Nadal to open the third set, but Nadal found his serve and held on for a 1-0 lead.  The two continued to hold serve until 4-3, when Nadal secrured a break.  He served it out and set up a dream semifinal.

UPDATE: Novak Djokovic just defeated American Mardy Fish in straight sets, 6-3-, 6-1.  A 55-minute rain delay interrupted the action at 2-2 in the first.  Djokovic seemed rejuvenated by the break and grabbed the reins shortly after they returned to the court.  Mardy had a break opportunity with Djokovic serving for the set at 5-3, but bricked a volley on break point.  Djokovic held serve to take the set and cruised through the second set for the win.

So, Djokovic awaits the winner of tonight's clash between Rafa and Roger.  It will either be #1 versus #2, or #2 versus #3.  No matter what, it will be epic.  And I will be there, perched in my favorite spot in the top row.

THE DJOKER AND THE GRUNTER

It was a night for the senses at the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne.  The air was warm but not too hot, and an occassional breeze blew some slightly cooler air through the stadium.  Sitting down low, just to the right of center court, I was able to witness the action up close and personal.  I saw the unbelievable athleticism of Novak Djokovic.  I heard the deeply resonant grunting of Victoria Azarenka.  And I felt the incredible power these superbly talented players hit with.

Kim Clijsters didn't seem to want to be playing tennis last night.  She showed no emotion and committed an inordinate amount of unforced errors in losing to Azarenka in straight sets.  The Belarusian babe hit the ball deep and hard with consistency, but the story of the match was Clijsters not being there mentally. 

The crowd urged her to wake up, to no avail.  You would think the insane loud yelling of Victoria Azarenka would have jolted Kim out of her daze.  Azarenka's particular brand of gutteral grunts have a way of cutting right through to the core.  It's irritating and unnerving, and that was just from my perspective in the stands.  But nothing seemed to lift Clijsters out of the cloud she was in, and a victorious Azarenka moved through to the semifinals.

 

Kevin Anderson, a tall South African with a big serve, upset John Isner in the previous round and earned a shot at the tour's hottest player, Novak Djokovic.

The crowd was clearly unfamiliar with Anderson.  With the exception of a few scattered cheers, Djokovic receieved most of the support.

Anderson played pretty well, battling from the baseline and earning five break points.  But he was unable to convert on any of those key points and didn't serve well enough to put real pressure on the Serb. 

The final score would indicate a routine 6-4, 6-2 win, but it felt like Anderson made Djokovic work for it at least. 

Though Nadal and Federer and a hot Mardy Fish remain the tournament, Novak Djokovic seems invincible right now.  He's brimming with confidence, he's in perfect physical condition, and he's hitting the ball as cleanly as he ever has before.  It'll be a surprise if he doesn't win this tournament.