Federer vs Sampras!!

Sampras vs Federer on Wimbledon 2001:
Some stats about the historic match in the Round of 16. It was the only time they both met and since Sampras has retired, Federer holds a 1-0 lifetime head to head against him. Going into the match,

* Pete had never lost a 5-set match at Wimbledon before he lost to Federer 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7- 5.

* He had a streak of 31 straight wins at Wimbledon, tying him with Rod Laver.

* Pete had won the seven of the last 8 Wimbledons going into the 2001 Wimby.

* Pete was looking for his 100th win at Wimbledon when he met Federer. He got his 100th win at Wimbledon with his 3-set win over Martin Lee in R128 the next year. It was also his last win at Wimbledon.

Here are the links of the MATCH!!

1st Set:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHKtJdLcxCQ

2nd set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_JKNrsMF6Y
3rd set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05rAfaAcvJE
4th set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZJz7ctkI5M
5th set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtBPCMX-yhc

I am not a big believer of stats. That said, there are several interesting coincidences about the careers of Pete and Roger. And unsurprising it is. Though they have vastly different approach to tennis as well as slams, here is an attempt to celebrate the coincidences rather than as a comparison between them.

Sampras and Federer were both born in August ten year apart. Federer's birthday is August 08, 1981, while Sampras's is August 12, 1971. So, at the time of writing, Sampras is 33, while Federer is 23. And the grand slams make up this way too. For example, Federer won Wimbledon 2005 at the age of 23, while Sampras won Wimbledon 1995, at the same age of 23. And so on.. get the drift?

Note::Sampras won his half of his 14 slams (7), at his mid point, at his 8th year as a pro (of his 15 year career).

Federer's 2007...

Win-Loss:: 67-9

AAMI CLASSIC
Kooyong, Australia/ hard court

RR Radek Stepanek(CZE) [20] 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5)

RR Marat Safin(RUS) [ 26] 6-3, 7-6 (2)

F Andy Roddick(USA ) [6] 2-6, 6-3, 3-6

AUSTRALIAN OPEN [Grand Slam]

Melbourne, Australia/ hard court

R128 Björn Phau(GER) [ 82] 7-5, 6-0, 6-4

R64 Jonas Björkman(SWE) [ 50] 6-2, 6-3, 6-2

R32 Mikhail Youzhny(RUS)[25] 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(5)

R16 Novak Djokovic(SCG) [ 15] 6-2, 7-5, 6-3

QF Tommy Robredo(ESP) [ 6] 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-5

SF Andy Roddick(USA) [ 7] 6-4, 6-0, 6-2

W Fernando Gonzalez(CHI) [ 9] 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4

THE DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dubai, United Arab Emirates/ hard court

R32 Krisitan Pless(DEN) [ 86] 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3

R16 Daniele Bracciali(ITA) [ 88] 7-5, 6-3

QF Novak Djokovic(SER) [14] 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3

SF Tommy Haas(GER) [9] 6-4, 7-5

W Mikhail Youzhny(RUS) [ 18] 6-4, 6-3

PACIFIC LIFE OPEN

Indian Wells, United States of America/ hard court

R64 Guillermo Canas(ARG) [60] 5-7, 2-6

SONY ERICSSON OPEN

Miami, United States of America/ hard court

R64 Sam Querrey(USA) [ 69] 6-4, 6-3

R32 Nicolas Almagro(ESP) [34] 7-5, 6-2

R16 Guillermo Canas ARG 55 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-7 (5)

MASTERS SERIES MONTE-CARLO

Monte Carlo, Monaco | ATP Masters Series | clay [o]

R32 Andrea Seppi ITA 101 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6)

R16 Hyung-Taik Lee KOR 49 6-4, 6-3

QF David Ferrer ESP 16 6-4, 6-0

SF Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP 21 6-3, 6-4

F Rafael Nadal ESP 2 4-6, 4-6

THE BATTLE OF SURFACES

Palma de Mallorca, Spain/ clay court

F Rafael Nadal ESP 2 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (10)

INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

Rome, Italy/ clay court

R32 Nicolas Almagro ESP 40 6-3, 6-4

R16 Filippo Volandri ITA 53 2-6, 4-6

MASTERS SERIES HAMBURG

Hamburg, Germany | ATP Masters Series | clay court

R32 Juan Monaco ARG 48 6-3, 2-6, 6-4

R16 Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP 19 6-2, 6-3

QF David Ferrer ESP 14 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

SF Carlos Moya ESP 36 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

W Rafael Nadal ESP 2 2-6, 6-2, 6-0

ROLAND GARROS

Paris, France | Grand Slam | clay court

R128 Michael Russell USA 68 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

R64 Thierry Ascione FRA 168 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(8)

R32 Potito Starace ITA 57 6-2, 6-3, 6-0

R16 Mikhail Youzhny RUS 15 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4

QF Tommy Robredo ESP 9 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2

SF Nikolay Davydenko RUS 4 7-5, 7-6, 7-6

F Rafael Nadal ESP 2 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6

WIMBLEDON

Wimbledon, Great Britain | Grand Slam | grass court

R128 Teimuraz Gabashvili RUS 85 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

R64 Juan Martin del Potro ARG 56 6-2 7-5 6-1

R32 Marat Safin RUS 24 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4)

R16 Tommy Haas GER 10 Walk Over

QF Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP 18 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

SF Richard Gasquet FRA 14 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

W Rafael Nadal ESP 2 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2

ROGERS MASTERS

Montreal, Canada | ATP Masters Series | hard court

R32 Ivo Karlovic CRO 34 7-6(2), 7-6(3)

R16 Fabio Fognini ITA 139 6-1, 6-1

QF Lleyton Hewitt AUS 21 6-3, 6-4

SF Radek Stepanek CZE 60 7-6(6), 6-2

F Novak Djokovic SCG 4 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-7(2)

WESTERN & SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS

Cincinnati, United States of America | ATP Masters Series | hard court

R32 Julien Benneteau FRA 68 6-3, 6-3

R16 Marcos Baghdatis CYP 18 7-6(5), 7-5

QF Nicolas Almagro ESP 32 6-3, 3-6, 6-2

SF Lleyton Hewitt AUS 19 6-3, 6-7(7), 7-6(1)

W James Blake USA 8 6-1, 6-4

US OPEN

New York, United States of America | Grand Slam | hard court

R128 Scoville Jenkins USA 319 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

R64 Paul Capdeville CHI 120 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

R32 John Isner USA 184 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2

R16 Feliciano Lopez ESP 60 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4

QF Andy Roddick USA 5 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 6-2

SF Nikolay Davydenko RUS 4 7-5, 6-1, 7-5

W Novak Djokovic SER 3 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4

MUTUA MADRILENA MASTERS MADRID

Madrid, Spain | ATP Masters Series | carpet

R32 Robby Ginepri USA 72 7-6(2), 6-4

R16 Guillermo Cañas ARG 14 6-0, 6-3

QF Feliciano Lopez ESP 42 7-6(4), 6-4

SF Nicolas Kiefer GER 112 6-4, 6-4

F David Nalbandian ARG 25 6-1, 3-6, 3-6

DAVIDOFF SWISS INDOORS

Basel, Switzerland | International Series | hard court

R32 Michael Berrer GER 56 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

R16 Juan Martin Del Potro ARG 49 6-1, 6-4

QF Nicolas Kiefer GER 64 6-3, 6-2

SF Ivo Karlovic CRO 25 7-6(6), 7-6(5)

W Jarkko Nieminen FIN 29 6-3, 6-4

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS

Paris, France | ATP Masters Series | carpet

R32 Ivo Karlovic CRO 24 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

R16 David Nalbandian ARG 21 4-6, 6-7(3)

Shanghai Masters Cup

Shanghai,China|Hard Court

RR Fernando Gonzalez(Chi) 7-5 6-7 5-7

RR Nikolay Davydenko(Rus) 6-3 6-4

RR Andy Roddick(USA) 6-3 6-2

SF Rafael Nadal(Spa) 6-4 6-1

W David Ferrer(Spa) 6-2 6-3 6-2

Federer won 8 tournaments this year including 3 Grand Slams..!

The year when I became a HUGE roger FAN...

The 1st time I heard about Roger was in d 2000 Wimbledon championships. And I think no one had even heard his name before that. It was a fourth round clash with the King of Grass" Pete 'Pistol' Sampras. Everyone in the Centre court arena would have thought that it would be cake walk for Sampras. Pete had won 13 grand slams before this event. N he had won d Wimbledon championships for an unprecedented 8 times! He had broken all d records, beating all great players from Agassi to Goran Ivanisevic. He was the greatest tennis player after Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe. He re-defined d art of serve n volley. His one handed back-hand was simply breathtaking. Coming back to d championships, Sampras cruised through d earlier rounds. He was up against a young man aged 20, hailing from Switzerland. Roger Federer had won d boys title at d Wimbledon in 1998. But he never knew that this match could change his life forever. Roger battled through grueling 5 set match n eventually beat the champion. He fell on his knees after d last point. It was an emotional farewell for Sampras. He dint cum back to Wimbledon as injuries haunted him.

After d fourth round victory, roger was up against d British favorite Tim Henman. Roger fought hard but Henman was playing fantastic tennis. Roger lost d match but he left a mark on d centre court. Henman then met Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia where he lost. Goran then went to win d championship where he beat Patrick Rafter. He became d 1st wild card entrant to win d Wimbledon.

Roger was out of d news for some 2 years. He had lost to Mario Ancic in 2002 Wimbledon. Lleyton Hewitt had won d championship beating David Nalbandian of Argentina.

Roger was born in Basel, Switzerland on August 8, 1981. As a child, he was fascinated by basketball. He never grew up dreaming of tennis stardom. Federer says that, He used to play chess with has dad, knocking the pieces off when he lost. After he started playing tennis at d age of 17, he took d setbacks hard, smashing rackets & crying inconsolably after the defeats. Eventually, in his early 20s, Roger learned to control such things with the help of his girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec who was also a tennis player. He learned to control such feelings, part of a general maturation that led to his steady on court demeanor. In the year 2003, I became a huge fan of roger after he won the Wimbledon beating Andy Roddick in d finals. I became a huge fan of his one hand backhand. It was amazing. Still Cherish those MOMENTS!!

Customer Care... Very Very Rare!!

Indians have changed a lot over centuries, but we (still)suck when it comes to customer care. Most of them dont even know what it means. And some of them probably have'nt even heard of it. Just go to a store in an indian city or town n u'll see what I mean. The sales guys or the managers treat customers like they're some relatives who have come to stay for a week. But the leading stores and branded showrooms are entirely different, I mean they say hello when you go in. And guess what!! they even say goodbye when you leave. But in every other case you'll come back home more frustrated than you wud be if u had a dozen wives. And i bet u'll want to soak ur head in a pool of ice until it actually stops spinning, or atleast for two or three days. Everytime I get into such a situation, I end up fighting wid the store guy. I've been the same since my school days, when I first fought with a fast food guy who dint respond properly. Even the businesses with the stiffest competition tend to pooh-pooh the importance of customer care.

In case there are ppl who by chance wish to please customers, I'd like to draw their attention toward a "new" concept in business called "customer care".
Businessmen in some countries have already adopted it some time back and some, even as far back as the 16th century. But it remains completely alien to the indian market.

The customer certainly needs help more often than not. If they(u know who it
refers to) see a customer walkin around, they probably assume that he has come to get some excersice. But I'm afraid he needs ur help. A customer expects to be greeted as long as u dont misunderstand 'greeted' to nodding ur head up n down, or raising ur eyebrows or giving him a damn stare all of which gesture the question "what the hell do u want????" All in all the customer care sucks to the core!

Which is our National Sport?

Every one knows that Cricket brings out staunch national feelings to the fore in every patriotic citizen of India. Last year, it was public outrage at the cricket team bringing shame to the nation, before that there was the controversy embroiled Ganguly expulsion and then his reinstatement which was copiously followed. The whole thing, turning into a soap opera with the help of television channels. But now, after many misses, the team is finally, victorious and everyone is bringing out the national flags. Though I'm a huge cricket fan, but I feel sad when I see the Hockey players going for Hunger strike. Its pathetic! The govt. is doing nothing for them.

But, we seem to have forgotten about our National sport, Hockey. It is sad that the team has to ask for our love and support when it so deserves it. So, it is understandable that now, they are protesting to the attention being showered on the Cricket Twenty20 team by the government, media, general public and even Bollywood superheroes.

They feel like they have been left out, ignored especially because they brought India, it’s Asian cup recently and that should be far more up the charts of achievement and pride than the Twenty20 match victory by the Indian cricket team. We have failed to acknowledge their day in the sun.

‘Step motherly treatment meted out to the Indian Hockey team in the wake of their victory earlier this month’ is the news flash on the television screens across the nation. The Hockey players are going on hunger strike to show their displeasure.

Is it fair that the Indian Cricket team is being given sops instead of the pat on the back which the Indian Hockey team received after their more important victory in the Asian games?
It is absolutely unfair!

We can benignly blame it on the government’s failure to get the game the recognition it deserves or we can decide whether to support their outcry and help the game. Afterall, they have delivered more, even though they have been sidelined for far too long. One can argue that hockey has a long way to go before it can compete with the fanatical way cricket is followed in the country. Cricket is the one religion that truly binds all its people. They are united in their fury, frustration and their celebrations. That, in itself, is quite a yardstick of its popularity, for a nation that is divided on most of everything. Cricket players are treated like Gods. It is the game that puts India on the map. But, what about hockey? Shouldn’t this team get more respect and encouragement then just a headline on the sports page.

I think they are right to be sore if only for the reason that they were entitled to a grand reception which, again could never compare to the reception of a victorious cricket team because the media is only interested in things that drive their TRPs. Cricket it is.

The cricket match, on top of everything was a match between India and Pakistan which is always watched an unparalleled fervor in the country. To win this match would mean more than winning the entire series but to have your cake and eat it too… is not something we get to do often. So, obviously, the opportunity was going to be cashed in a big way with the public. No one is thinking how unfair it would be to the Indian Hockey team. Every body wants to be a part of this energy and show their support for the team and probably get the much desired publicity for themselves. Even SRK “Chak De’ himself! The star made a smash hit movie about their game but chucked it on the cricket field. Where was he when the Hockey team came home victorious? He could have given the game a much required boost by being more involved. They have complained forever of the lack of funds and attention been given to game when it is considered to be India’s National game. But who is listening?

I think, it’s sad that the hockey team has to resort to being a damp squib in Twenty20 team’s party. This could be their only chance. After all, the whole nation is watching!

Hockey as a game, needs nurturing before it can command the mass hysteria that cricket enjoys. Till then, we can at least give it its due.

But for now, hockey has lost its victory to cricket.

Dravid resigns as the CAPTAIN...

Its sad indeed that even the Great wall of India could not take the pressure. Its actually not the game thats bothering him, its the media, some of the players and the cricket board (Politics) its like fighting your own people which is shame. But good thing is he still continues to contribute to the game from his bat even though we miss his thoughts and plan of actions as a captain.

Remember cricket is not a individual game, its team game if people can't give there best there's very little that a captain can do. "Every day is not a Sunday", the famous saying, and one man cannot be a match winner. Every game India play, people need to take there turn and be responsible for themselves and also learn to shoulder to the responsibilities on the team. Its not a one man's show. I know there are some young guns like Dhoni, Yuvi n uthappa coming up but the experience counts. These players may play well in 20-20 n on Indian Soil but when we tour to Ausralia or England, Dravid's plans would certainly help us.

Dravid's golden phase began, arguably, in Kolkata'01, with a supporting act, when he made 180 to support VVS Laxman's classic effort of 281 against Australia. But from then on, Dravid became India's most valuable player. saving them Tests at Port Elizabeth(south Africa), Georgetown(West Indies) and Trent Bridge. Winning them Tests at Headingley, Adelaide, Kandy and Rawalpindi. At one point during this run, he carved up four centuries in successive innings, and hit four double-centuries in the space of 15 Tests, including in historic away-wins at Adelaide and Rawalpindi. As India finished off the '04 Pakistan tour on a winning note, on the back of Dravid's epic 270, his average crept past Sachin Tendulkar's - and it seemed no aberration.

Handling conflicts within the team, managing the media, managing the expectations of the fans are ALL part of being a captain and/or a coach(If you dont believe me, check out the BCCI ad for a new coach). If you are pressurized by the media, fans, board, etc. then you aren't good enough as a captain. It is not like captaining a state team, where all that one has to do is to have a good cricketing brain, lots of skills and lots of passion. Dravid has it all. But there is that little bit extra which you need as a captain of India, which he didnt possess. Not even did Sachin possess it, although Sachin is a genius.

And one more thing. EVERYONE is a team man, as far as we are concerned. We do not know what goes on in the dressing room, do we? Does any one in our community watch cricket from the dressing room along with the players? So how do we know who are the cricketers who play for the team and who are the ones who promote groupism? Our knowledge is based on MEDIA INPUTS. SO it is WE who are affected by the media.

Dravid will continue as a batsman.....and he will ROCK the Aussies. Thats what he does best...BAT. Let him do that.