The Day After The Titanic AO Final

Yesterday (Monday) we had a general strike in Belgium. No public transport on the coldest day of the year so far. Consequence: I had to walk a total of 2,5 hours through downtown Brussels to make my appointments. Brrrrrrrr... and while I was walking through the cold, I thought of the AO Final to keep myself warm. "If they can spend 6 hours running and hitting balls in the scorching heat, then I can walk calmly and have a coffee every now and then today. Be strong!", is what I was telling myself.

Of course, thinking about the match, I always came back to that missed easy backhand of Nadal's at 4-2 in the fifth set. I wondered if Nadal also kept thinking about it, or if he really was that cool about it. That shot decided the match. That was the one shot that gave Djokovic hope. This is Tennis. You are down, then you win a point you didn#t deserve, and you are back. Tennis is amazing. Tennis is cruel.

However, there is one fact: Djokovic was the better player during the whole match. Nadal came back to win the fourth set because HE HAS BIGGER COJONES THAN ANY OTHER SPORTSPERSON IN THE WORLD. Nadal's achievements are breathtaking. He, Djokovic and Federer, all three of them have taken Tennis to another level. I wouldn't want to miss anyone of them.

In the Sunday final, the first three hours were of medium quality. It is astonishing that these players need three hours to warm up, only to play their best tennis in the three hours that follow.

The final will be remembered forever. I really hope Nadal thinks the right things and doesn't give up. he was so close. But he has to improve still. Generate more power with his groundstrokes. Don't go three metres behind the baseline. Play the return deep into the middle of the court, to give Djokovic no angles, and build the point from there.

As a fan, I thank both players for giving it all in that match, and making us proud of witnessing these exciting times in men's tennis.

As for me, I lost a match yesterday I should have won. 5-3, 40-30 up, own serve. I lost 5-7, as it always happens when I have a big lead. I have a long history with that. As you see, i have some mental work to do as well.

@AtleticoDave

PS.: Congrats to Azarenka for her well-deserved title. I would write more about it, but her opponent in the final displayed an unworthy performance.

AO Day 10: How Djokovic beat IronMan Ferrer

Yes I know they played yesterday, but I didn't get to write this earlier. Right now I am having another sleepless night, watching the first women's semifinal (which provides more suspense than actual playing quality) and rethink what actually happened during yesterday's semifinal.

The best player in the world, Novak Djokovic, faced the fifth best, Spain's David Ferrer, the eternal warrior. A man you have to admire for his hard work and his ability to squeeze any little potential he has in his body to become a top player.

Djokovic had survived a scare in the previous round vs Hewitt, and now against Ferrer, he looked a bit doubtful. He secured the first set and led 2-0 in the 2nd, but Ferrer came back. Djokovic became hesitant, didn't produce the big shots anymore. Ferrer was running and hitting, running and hitting, as usual.

At 5-5, Djokovic broke Ferrer. The set seemed over, but Ferruuuu fought back, broke back, and started off leading the Tiebreak 2-0. He had all the momentum you need against a Djokovic who did not hit and did not move as he used to in 2011. Djokovic was grimacing, gasping for air, looking vulnerable. On Twitter, many tennis fans reminded everyone that Djokovic used to fake pain and injuries, and that he might be doing just that again. I don't think so, it makes no sense now, being No.1, to show your opponent that you are hurt. As a number 1, you don't get pity points.

At 2-0 for Ferrer in the Tiebreak, Novak served. That's when Ferrer lost the match. He hit an easy return to the net. He squandered the chance of making Novak play another long point and winning it. Making Novak feel that his path to victory would be even longer and more painful.
But no, Ferrer's shot sailed into the net. He managed to take a 4-2 lead, but at 4-3 he produced a stupid unforced error after a long, spectacular rally that saw him run from left to right. After that, he lost all the points, and gave up. He should have won that point. He should have played a good return at 2-0. That's when he lost the match and the confidence.

Ferrer is "the best of the rest", but the step from No.5 to No.4 is too huge for him. Which is no disgrace. He has done a lot for Tennis, and will continue to do so.
But until then, all eyes will be on the big clash between Roger and Rafa, on Australia Day. Scheduled in just 4 hours... but the first ladies semifinal is far from over. Kim Clijsters and Vika Azarenka are battling it out in the 3rd set right now, and the rallies are becoming incredibly spectacular. This can be a huge day for Tennis.

@AtleticoDave