Who is Roger Federer?

Who is Roger Federer? Once again this question thumped upon me.

Like every time, I felt angry and humiliated. Then I felt miserable. I remembered all those times when people crossed me with this question. (And I laughed coz whenever anyone asks me "Who's this Roger Federer?", my brother gets a reason to tease me- “See, nobody knows your Federer, he he he “. He’d surely be happy to know that somebody has asked me that question again.)

But today, to be frank, this question made me think- who is Roger Federer?

Records will tell you that this guy holds a lot of them. Stats will tell you that he has grabbed 12 Grand Slam Titles which includes 5 consecutive Wimbledons and 4 successive US Opens and that he’s just two of Pete Sampras’ all time record of 14.

Experts will praise his all-court game and his ability to produce shots from nowhere. Critics will speak on why he has not yet won the French Open even after reaching the Final twice.

One can not resist appreciating his elegance on the court and off of it, his grace with which he accepts the things- he’s crying a tear of joy when he wins and he’s plain and unmoved when he’s defeated. Such is his charm that even his acrh-rivals admire him. (Oh! that famous quote by Andy Roddick, "Roger, I'd have loved to hate you, but I can't" ) Not just that he has admirers in the world outside Tennis -from Rahul Dravid to Tiger Woods.

To the World, he’s an athlete with paramount capabilities. To Sports maniac, he’s a tennis player- one of the finest the game has ever produced. To Tennis fraternity, he’s their numero uno, a milestone that everyone seeks to surpass. To his Fans, Tennis is Roger and Roger means Tennis and I am a big Fan of him.

But really for me, Who Is ROGER FEDERER???

He’s my ultimate inspiration. Somebody whose manners and story made me realize that anger should be controlled. As a child he used to throw the racket around when he lost a game. But then he realized that he should use extra bit of energy on his game instead of spending it on smashing the racket. And knowing this has helped me overcome my short-temperedness.

I still remember how I was stunned to see his game for the first time- he was not running behind the ball, he was simply floating at it- that was way back in 2001 when he outclassed Sampras in the Wimbledon- the only official clash between the two. That match marked the end of an era and beginning of the other. And that day this little boy from Switzerland had the game that bowled me over. And since then his consistency and dedication always motivated me to do better. There’s a lot that I’ve learned from him and a lot is yet to be learned.

Still I may never know who is Roger Federer? But may be the children in Africa and Tsunami torned Tamil Nadu know it better than me.

He is different, way ahead from the rest, in whatever he does. He plays without a coach. His love of life, Mirka- a former Tennis player, acts as his manager. His Family never tries to seek attention, something that is uncommon to other Star Players, mostly Footballers. Really, Federer has a persona that no western Star Sportsman has. (The only example, I feel, that goes closer to his is Rahul Dravid)

I understand not everyone knows about him but he really is someone that everyone must know about. Not because he’s at the pinnacle of the Sports world, but because he’s ruling over it like noone else has done before in any other sport. On the Court he is a true champion with the game that will match only to divine and away from it, he is a true human being. Emperor without conceit, Aggression without arrogance, that is Roger Federer. He is him and he is like nobody else...

Pakistan has been witnessing a lot of things since few months- a lot is happening in political and social corridors of Islamabad. And recent Elections reflect this trend.

No Party has got clear majority. The PML(Q) that backs President Musharraf was trounced in parliamentary elections. However, Musharraf said he intends to remain in office and work with the new government. The Question is, will the government be formed at all?

I just got this update- Asif Zardari have joined hands with Nawaz Sharif to form the government. So there is a hope for change.

But it'll be the fact, the New Government in Pakistan, if it really comes into existence, won’t be powerful enough to remove President Pervez Musharraf.

Oh God! My thoughts are running so fast and it's all messed up in my brain.... I think I need to keep away from computer for some time....

Indian "Premium" League

It's very very late in the night, more than half past 12. I just got home after a very busy day-

The Players Auction of IPL. Great auction, it was. It’s something that has changed the game’s economy forever. Now I won’t be surprised, if players would prefer playing in Twenty-20 leagues like IPL and earn a premium of life-time instead of playing for their national side.

Never felt that speaking of crores of Rs. will be so boring! It was not just boring but meaningless. No I'm not saying this out of frustration. But I really don't see any good in it- barring the fact that Cricketrs will also get a chance to make money.

As for the teams and players sold and bought, everyone has said a lot today, and everyone will say a lot in coming days. So, I’ll stop here and get a nice Sleep… Good Night, World!

Pak Elections

The Results are out in Pakistan and as it was anticipated, nobody has a clear majority. But it's clear that people have rejected Musharraf's regim. The pro- Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League has got a severe beating in the polls.

The Pakistan People's Party under leadership of Asif Ali Zardari, late. Benazir Bhutto's widower, had not reaped a mass sympathy vote, as it was espected. On the other Hand, Former Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) produced a surprise result. And small parties have got small sections. So, Nobody has got a chance to make the Government.

Now this has raised a whole new bunch of questions. Will the President step down? will a coillition come into existance? and will the coillition really last long? will Pakistan have a new Government? will that Government be able to solve the problems of inflation, power cuts and food shortages?

We'll see this in coming times. But markets in Pakistan are showing optimism since the results came, with a rise of more than three percent, as it's reported.

Next few days are going to be very crucial.From what it seems, there is one possibility. PPP Leader Asif Zardari might join hands with Shariff's PML(N) .

There's another thing- the results in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) are quite interesting. Here, a secular ethnic Pashtun nationalist party has, beaten Islamist parties. The area is known to be conservative.

But in light of these results, there is a basic thing one needs to keep in mind- only around 40 % . In many areas like NWFP, women were banned from voting. But still, 40% is not bad to start with, for a country deprived of Democracy for past nine years, and many more before that.

India Reacts to Kosovo Freedom

I was waiting for India's official reaction to the Kosovo problem. and it's not differen than what I had anticipated, if it came.

Just check this link:

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021959721000.htm

India has always supported a solution through bilateral talks let it be any problem from any part of the world. As a Free Nation and Republic Democracy, India has always respected territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries.

So wheneveer there is any dispute between two countries or between a country and it's subsidiary, India must treat it as an internal problem between the two bodies- a problem that must be resolved through consultation and dialogue. So, India is not agreeing the way Kosovo has tried to be Sovereign.

That sums up India’s reaction to Kosovo’s declaration of Freedom.

* It was a very long day- the IPL auction, and I must stop here.

Laureus Sports Awards 2008

Just got this news,

Roger Federer and Justin Henin are the Laureaus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year...

Waw! both prizes went to Tennis this time!!

Federer had captured his fifth straight Wimbledon title last season to equal Bjorn Borg's record. He just finished fourth successive year at number one. I liked what he said after recieving the Prestigeous Award for a record fourth time- "I am thankful the jury didn't think three was enough" So sweet! :D

Henin had a very tough last season. She skipped the 2007 Australian Open after splitting with her husband. Despite that, she won 10 titles in the season and became only women to do it after Martina Hingis.

Besides, Louis Hamilton, the rookie Formula One driver, who finished second in the F1 drivers' standings, won the World Breakthrough of the Year award.

British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, who won the New York Marathon after two years away from competition following childbirth, got the World Comeback of the Year award.

South Africa's rugby team won the World Team of the Year award after going unbeaten to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Montreal lawyer Dick Pound, the Head of the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) since last eight years was given the Spirit of Sport Award.

The winners were selected by members of the Laureus Sports Academy.

Kosovo declares Sovereignty

A few days back I said that it’s small states that create big troubles. Well, there’s another such incidence coming up. Once again Balkan states are at the center of attention.

Kosovo, The autonomous province of Serbia, has declared it's sovereignt. The statement came late in the night on 17th Feb, i.e. on 18th according to Indian Time.

To be frank, it doesn’t matter much to me personally If Kosovo really becomes a state. Every people have a right to self decision. But what concerns me is the way they got their Freedom. (well, they've not yet got official recognition from UN. Even European Communities are divided over it.)

The UN guided negotiations about Kosovo problem had failed and so, the territory declare Independence with support from the US and other big states of Europe. something that might send wrong signals. One can not forget the fact that Pakistan has provided its hand to Kosovo to get recognization. There are many divisive forces in India, and they might get a boost. I'm really waiting for India's official reaction to this.

Kosovo to declare Independence

When in 2006, Montenegro Seceded from Serbia, it was supposed to be the final state to break away from the Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. But now it might be proved wrong. I just read the news that Kosovo is about to declare independence anytime soon. The UN administered territory is all set to secede from Serbia.

I wonder how the World especially EU and UN will react to this. I’m not sure if Kosovo’s sovereignty will get recognition from all of the international community. Serbia will not accept it- that’s I’m damn sure. The Serbs consider Kosovo as the birth-place of their civilization.

Kosovo has been a part of Serbia since a long time. But in the last decade it came into light because of the ethnic conflict between Serbs and Albanians. The territory has seen genocide under the rule of Slobodan Milosevic. Milosevic had imposed areal attacks on Kosovo and NATO forces came to the rescue. After his rule came to an end, the Territory is under control from UN administered Forces. The Albanians had been demanding a separate state of their own. And now, as the UN sponsored negotiations have failed to reach any conclusion, Kosovo is going to declare unilateral Independence.

Obviously, Serbia would never accept it. So will Russia, who has always supported the Serbs. Even, China would not recognize Kosovo’s Sovereignty, because of their specific interests. China has claimed Taiwan- the tiny neighbouring to be a part of Chinese Territory. But Taiwan has declared its independence and Chinese support to Kosovo will eventually take the power away from their claim on Taiwan. And I doubt if India will pay any attention to it?

Seles Retires

Monica Seles has announced her retirement today, and with it, comes to an official end of another era. Seles had a fabulous carrier turned into pieces by a knife that was pierced in her back in 1993. She was a victim of her own popularity.

Seles was a champion in women’s tennis who climbed the ranks very early in her carrier. From a young Tennis Player from former SFR Yougoslavia (in today’s Serbia), she rose to challenge the big names of the game and dominated the game in 1991 and 1992. She won her first Grand Slam title– French open at the age of 16 and became the youngest player to win the tournament. And went on to win 7 more till 1993.

Such was her rivalry with Steffi Graf that she overtook Steffi in 1993. Bewildered by the thought that Steffi had lost her top spot a mad fan of her stabbed Seles in her back during a Match in Hamburg. The incidence left the Tennis World stunned and Seles didn’t return to the circuit for more than two years. And after she did return, she couldn’t gain her top ranking again.

Tennis doesn’t consider, what- if- buts. Still People argue what would have happened if that incident had not happened. To me, as far as I had seen Seles play, her game was not changed after 1993. It was more or less the same. What was changed was Steffi. She had overcome all her personal trauma and dominated the Game again.

Still, Seles’ legacy can not be forgotten. Although she naturalized as an American Citizen, Seles has inspired a whole generation in her homeland. Today’s Women’s World no. 2 Ana Ivanovic took the racket after watching Seles on TV.

Not just Ana, but Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic and a bunch of Serbian Players are all successors of her. She was often criticized for her grunts on the court, something which she started and a lot of Gen-next followed with increased decibels. She was a girl with a high ambition and was ready to give everything for it. She set her own standards and never agreed on anything bellow it.

Emergency in Timor

East Timor is facing Emergency situation after rebel soldiers critically wounded the Nobel Peace Prize-winning president and fired at the prime minister's convoy. Armored U.N. vehicles are quickly on work in the tiny Indian Ocean State.

It's a tiny state in South East asia, to be precise near Indonesia. If I'm not wrong, it's the first independent state of the new millenium. Timor is a very tiny state. But it's relatively important in the region. because, Timor is one of the only two Roman Catholic states in the region- Phillipines being the other. The recent things going on in this state are a proof of the fact that a religious state has an unstable future- let it be Israel (Religion- Jew) Palestine and other Arab Nations (Religion Islam), Nepal (of two years back- now it's not a Hindu state) or let it Timor. (To me, this shows, Religion is a sentiment and business of Government can not smoothly on sentiments. )

I won't be surprised if we come to know that Indonesia might have a hand in ared rebel in Timor. And I'm not surprised to see how little attention India has given to these happenings.

I believe small states and their small problems are always not attended until they get bigger. There is always a plenty of discussions on US, West, Afghanistan, iran et el.... But it's always small pieces of land that can shatter the world order. Remember? Two World Wars started over the small pieces of land. And I don't want another one.

I really feel sory when I see people not taking the inciedences in such states seriously. Look at Myanmar (Burma) it's in trouble for many years now. but not much of attention is paid to the proble of people over there. and I really regret over the fact coz, Even Indian leaders are not so willing to take any initiative.

फेडरर नाबाद २०९

शिखरावर पोहोचणं सोपं असतं, तिथं टिकून राहणं मात्र कठीण असतं. उंचावरचे वारे सगळ्यांनाच सोसवत नाहीत. पण रॉजर फेडररची गोष्टच निराळी. टेनिसमधल्या सर्वोच्च शिखरावर तो नुसता पोहोचलाच नाही तर तब्बल २०९ आठवडे तिथं फक्त त्याचंच वास्तव्य आहे. 2 फेब्रुवारी 2004 रोजी फेडररनं टेनिसच्या जागतिक क्रमवारीत अव्वल स्थान मिळवलं आणि तेव्हापासून ते फक्त त्याचंच आहे. विशेष म्हणजे सलग चार वर्ष नंबर वन असूनही त्याच्यातली विनम्रता जराही कमी झालेली नाही.

चार वर्षांच्या काळात टेनिसविश्वातले अनेक विक्रम मोडीत निघाले. अनेकदा इतिहास नव्यानं रचला गेला. आणि काही थोडे अपवाद वगळता तो इतिहास लिहीणारा फेडररच होता. त्याचा कट्टर प्रतिस्पर्धी राफेल नदाल सोडला तर इतर कोणीही फेडररवर वरचढ ठरला नाही. नदालनंही केवळ क्ले कोर्टवरच फेडररला रोखून धरलंय. एक फ्रेन्च ओपन आणि दुसरं ऑलिम्पिक सुवर्णपदक यांचा अपवाद वगळला तर बाकी सगळ्या मोठ्या स्पर्धांवर फेडररनं ताबा मिळवला. आणि यंदा या दोन्ही स्पर्धा जिंकायचाच त्याचा इरादा आहे.

मात्र फेडररसाठी या पुढचं आव्हान सोपं नाही. याची जाणीव गेल्या वर्षीच्या यू एस ओपनमध्येच झाली होती. स्पर्धेचं जेतेपद अर्थातच फेडररनं मिळवलं पण अंतिम फेरीच्या सामन्यात सर्बियन सुपरस्टार नोवाक ज्योकोविचनं त्याला चांगलंच सतावलं होतं. त्या पराभवाची परतफेड ज्योकोविचनं यंदाच्या ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपनच्या सेमीफायनलमध्ये केली. आणि गेल्या चार वर्षात फेडररवर एकापेक्षा जास्त वेळा विजय मिळवणारा तो केवळ चैथा खेळाडू ठरलाय. (फेब्रुवारी 2004 नंतर नोवॅक ज्योकोविच आणि गियेर्मो कनास यांनी प्रत्येकी दोनदा, डेव्हिड नॅलबॅन्डियननं तीनवेळा तर राफेल नदालनं आठ वेळा फेडररला पराभूत केलंय.)

खरंतर ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपनमध्ये खेळण्याआधी फेडररला व्हायरल इन्फेक्शनचा त्रास जाणवत होता. अवघ्या दोन-तीन दिवसांत त्याचं वजनही तीन किलोनं कमी झालं. त्यामुळं त्यानं कुयाँग क्लासिक स्पर्धेतनं माघार घेतली. कोणत्याही सरावाशिवाय ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपनमध्ये खेळताना आजारातून उठलेल्या फेडररचा खेळ बराच मंदावल्यासारखा वाटला. फेडररला हरवता येऊ शकतं अशी कुजबूज मेलबर्न पार्कवर सुरू झाली आणि ज्योकोविचनं ती प्रत्यक्षात आणली. चार वर्षांत पहिल्यांदाच फेडररच्या अव्वल स्थानाला धोका निर्माण झालाय.

तरीही तो मेलबर्नमध्ये सेमीफायनलपर्यंत पोहोचू शकला याचं कारण एकच – तो रॉजर फेडरर आहे. टेनिसच्या सर्वोच्च शिखरावर तो सध्या राज्य करतोय. अव्वल स्थानावर टिकून राहण्याचा मंत्र त्याला अगदी पुरेपुर माहीत आहे आणि हा मंत्र आहे मेहनत, मेहनत आणि अखंड मेहनत....