Desicritics Author: sufferingsocrates

Cricket Eclipsing Commonwealth Youth Games

sufferingsocrates — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:17:59 EDT

Now that Sachin has crawled over Lara's world record, India celebrates another individual achievement.A player, who I would have loved to love, but absolutely hate when on the field for his penchant for records, and his struggle to even achieve them, beginning with the world record number of centuries (his 35th way back in 2005). Unlike the most simple batsman the world has seen in Virender Sehwag, who believes a ball has to be hit, even if the batsman is on 199 or 299, Sachin always watched and crawled his way to his milestones.

Just look at his record in the past 3 years :

Since and including his record breaking matches (record no. of centuries, and record runs)

Matches : 28*
Innings : 49
Runs* : 1850
Average in this period : 41.11

Without including his record breaking matches (record no. of centuries, and record runs)

Matches : 26
Innings : 46
Runs* : 1637
Average in this period : 38.96

Sachin's record during this period has fallen from 57.06 to 54.02. Clearly, an average of around 40, with 5 centuries in 3 years does put him in the company of fab four and not the elite list of a Ponting or Lara. No wonder, questions over his retirements have been coming from all corners and will continue to do so until he hangs up his boots.

Sachin may have achieved his highest milestone, but he can never ever dispute his miserable record at winning games for India, even after India had Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly and Sehwag in the ranks in the past decade. Nineteen years of great batsmanship, but with only 2 centuries worthy of being called match winning ones (155 in 1998 against Australia, 126 against Australia in 2001) in his entire career of 39 centuries. In this moment of cheer which many in India would be celebrating, I find it difficult to be part of this. Sorry Sachin. This record, was just another milestone for another ad spree, eh ?

With his subtle outburst of stones into milestones, he has admitted what many critics were always thinking. Sachin is a man for records. And that's what he has played for through his life. So, will the media now start calling the fab four as fab 3? BECAUSE Sachin has something which the others don't hold? Well, whatever I say, India still remains hype driven and Sachin's milestone is all over the press.

Does the media or the rest of the nation know that there is a Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) going on in India? How many know that India is way ahead in the medals tally in the CYG currently underway in Pune? No mean feat this, with other giants like Britain behind India in medals tally. Does India realise what this means to Indian Sport and the Commonwealth Games in 2010? Indian media should grow up and not just complain about the IOC and its bureaucracy. Instead the media should highlight the CYG, just like they did the Olympics, and urge India, the IOC, SAI to look forward to the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and make India a sporting superpower. If India and its media do not grab this CYG moment of glory, 3 medals at an Olympics may remain as India's best medal haul for many more Olympics to come.

Note : All the above cricketing details are pertaining to Test Matches Alone. Stats Courtesy : HowSTAT!

Jet Airways Lay Off and Raj Thackeray's Tears

sufferingsocrates — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:37:01 EDT

Raj .. kkkkkkkya ho raha hai? Raj is what Shah Rukh Khan has been named in many of his movies, and Raj is who I have a question for. This being the real life Thackeray version though. Our real life Raj has found a new political agenda of fighting for the rights of the 1900 workers of Jet who were laid off all of a sudden, post an alliance between Jet and Kingfisher a day back. Now what could have triggered Raj to vehemently oppose this move by Jet Airways?

Thinking about Raj Thackeray, reminds one of the man who stands for the right of every Marathi who has been (apparently) deprived of his/her rights in their own land. Considering this political agenda of Raj's, I am wondering what could have been his motive in standing for the demands of Jet employees?

Hmm .. looks like Raj has indeed gone through the profiles of each of the Jet employees who have been laid off, and actually cleared them all as Marathis! That should indeed be the reason, eh Raj? As to whether each of them speaks Marathi or not, has certainly been confirmed after Raj personally interviewed and spoke with all the 1900 Jet employees (in Marathi mind you!). Though, one must not ignore the tears of the pretty air hostesses which were of course rolling down their cheeks in Marathi! Right Raj?

Let's look at a different take on this issue. So, will Raj be at loggerheads with the Left parties? With a truthful confession that I am still new to political games, will Left support this move by Jet of laying off employees? Can corollaries exist in Politics? For example, since Left parties fight for the rights of Government organizations and business units, shouldn't the corollary mean that any move which lays off employees by a private firm be lauded and encouraged by the Left? That being the case, Left would be in support of people getting laid off from private organizations. So maybe, this equation can be concluded as a fight between Left and Raj.

Update: Jet Airways Reverses Layoffs

Sachin Tendulkar and World Records - The Longest Crawl

sufferingsocrates — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:34:18 EDT

What is this fascination with Sachin and world records? Sachin has been inching closer to the world record number of runs in Test Cricket, which is currently held by Brian Lara (11953). Well, this inching has been going on, and has metamorphosed into crawling, in the past 6 innings. When the undergoing Australia-India Test series began in Bangalore, he was even closer, 77 runs behind (11877 runs before Australia series) the world record.

So, how close is really close? 64 runs? Sachin has crawled closer, by getting dismissed for 13 "valuable" runs, on the 3rd day of the Test Match today. Media hype will never come to an end, and Indian media has always been one for individualistic achievements. So what if India lose the series against Australia. Sachin overhauled the world record during the series. That will be the highlight. How does it matter, if Sachin took 8 innings to crawl his way to the World Record.

Even as Sachin is crawling towards that pinnacle of achievement, it is but a mere formality as to when would Ponting (10222 runs before Australia series) race past Sachin in record number of runs in Test Cricket. Ponting has been phenomenal in the past 4 years especially, raking up a world record 16 centuries as captain alone in this period. So, really what World Record are we talking about here? Test fans, especially in India and the Indian media should be realistic and accept that Sachin will not hold the world record number of Test runs (Ponting is 2 years younger to Sachin) when he retires from Test cricket.

What would be more worrying for Sachin is, his fall from near immortality on the cricket field, to being reduced to being speculated on his own retirement. This does reflect the harsh change in times, when performance speaks, more than just records. Times have indeed changed, and Ganguly was virtually forced to retire during the ongoing Australia test series. Maybe Sachin should be said, that this is his last chance of having a test series to clinch the World Record from Brian Lara. Or, seeing Ponting's exceptional achivements (his first hundred in India coming on the first day of the current Australia test series) in terms of runs galore in Test cricket, would Sachin's retirement be much sooner than ever expected ?

Selectors, are you going to give Sachin a chance to hold the World Record once, or be realistic and drop him if he fails to perform in a series of matches? Do the new set of selectors have the guts to drop Sachin? Well, that's the question which begs to be answered.

U.S. Open 2008 : Fedex From The Ashes

sufferingsocrates — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 14:04:58 EDT

When I decided to watch the U.S. Open Men's Final, sitting up as late as 2:30 A.M IST, I wasn't quite sure how long I would have to finally remain awake. For Andy Murray, coming into his first Grand Slam final had a 2-1 head to head lead on Federer, and was hot on form after upsetting newly crowned World No.1 Rafael Nadal. I was wondering whether I will be awake through the entire morning to finally see the winner.

Well, as things turned out eventually, Federer might have thought of giving me more time to sleep and get some for himself. His three-set demolition of Andy Murray was clinical and ruthless to say the least. He did lose break of serve during the match, but those were the moments when Andy Murray showed his true capabilities. Federer ultimately taming the Brit 6-2,7-5,6-2.

Honestly, it was precision and aggression which wrapped up the match for Federer in under 2 hours. He seemed hungry as ever, and his win over Novak Djokovic in the semi finals seemed to have done him a world of good. Coupled with the possibility of creating history to become only the second man in the history of the game since Bill Tilden in 1924 to win five consecutive U.S. Open titles.

In a press conference leading upto the finals, Andy Murray summarized the magician that Federer is, by questioning critics who doubted Federer's abilities even after reaching Semi Finals of all the Grand Slams in the year, being in the finals of French and Wimbledon. Really, what more can one ask from a professional tennis star ? True to what he referred to as having created a monster after his performances in last 4 years, that is precisely what every tennis fan wants from him. Sweeping all 4 slams of the year. Atleast Wimbledon was expected. Reaching finals is not good enough for a man like Federer.

It was heart warming to see Federer play in a free spirit, devising tactics to come into the net much more than earlier this year and mix his game. The Gold at the Beijing Olympics (again, shall I dare to say .."though" in the Men's Doubles ?) has certainly done him a world of good in terms of gaining confidence which was lacking after major setbacks at the French and Wimbledon at the hands of his nemesis, Nadal.

There is no denying that, if one has been witness to this era of tennis, it is indeed a privilege to have seen the finest player to have played this sport. Federer has taken tennis to such heights, which only Gods can dream of. With the fifth U.S. Open title, Federer has now achieved 13 Grand Slam Titles in all, just one behind Pete Sampras. Another astounding piece of achievement, which I can bet a zillion dollars will never be beaten is, winning 2 different slams , in 5 consecutive years (U.S. Open - 2004-2008, Wimbledon - 2003-2007). If to be the second best in clay behind Nadal should be the reason for him not be hailed the best ever, then it would be gravest of injustice on the genius that is Federer. Having qualified for three consecutive finals in the French Open (2006-2008) when his game is not totally suited to the surface speaks volumes of the ability of the man.

Federer has only now begun a new journey. A journey where he realises challenges are more. But the free spirit that he regained after the Olympics, will keep him in good stead. Critics doubted his abilities, because they were thinking Federer would surpass all records in the history of the game. That is the level of expectation he has set. Now that he has proven himself to be another mortal wielding the tennis racquet, he can breathe easy and win half a dozen slams more on the way. What say, Roger?

Belles' Belly Balle

sufferingsocrates — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:43:09 EDT

For all cheerleader fans of the 20-20 IPL, there is good news. The Maharashtra Government has officially accepted belly moves by hot Ukraninan belles. If the Janmashtami celebrations organized by an NCP minister are to go by, cheerleaders at IPL events have found a new lease of life. Seems, they need not come for cricketing celebrations, but can come for traditional celebrations.

What an irony, of a Government which stepped in to ban cheerleaders from IPL matches, to them being entertained by Ukrainian belly dancers. If the belly dancers' balle balle is not objectionable, then why would cheerleaders for a match be ? Or is there an ulterior motive to poach the cheerleaders for belly dance performances by the same netas ?

Following up on my previous post about politics being a game of contradictions, this is another blatant example of this. While dancing in pubs has been banned, and pubs ordered to close by 11:30 p.m. day events for public viewing of belly dancing seems to be fine. Or are the netas trying to justify calling belly dancing an art form like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi in India ?

With all due credit, and no offense intended, are the netas suggesting, that if the belly dancers, with the same costume did a Bharatanatyam number, they would appreciate it ? Won't that be tantamount to over exposure like the IPL cheerleaders or will they still defend the act by saying it is indeed an art form ? In fact, come to think of it, maybe the world should declare cheerleaders' dances as an art form. That would certainly open a new debate ! For now though, the netas might get away saying belly dancing is an art ! Well, it sure is, and there are workshops which specialise in giving classes for belly dancing !

Without trying to be too vulgar, weren't the cheerleaders exposing their bellies, just like the belly dancers very much have to ? Is that lost in thought by the netas ? Or, as I previously hinted, spotting the belly and the talent that comes with it is for the netas to decide. For an argument sake, the belly has always been a major attention point for the majority of the Indian public for years and years. Is that why belly dancing seems to be fine while cheerleaders are not ? Maybe the cheerleaders should resort to belly dancing at IPL, which would be more appreciated.

Politics - Thy Name is Contradiction

sufferingsocrates — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:30:12 EDT

Watching the headlines these days makes for sickening viewing. The past week has been even more so, with horror stricken stories. It was funny how the news channels were prioritizing the news stories. While one channel had debates running on the communal tension and violence in Orissa, another was covering the flood hit areas of Bihar. Another channel was busy broadcasting the protests and curfews in Jammu & Kashmir over the Amarnath land dispute. Of course, all these news items were subsequently covered by each of them. Not to mention the Singur land dispute which is making headlines everyday.

Up until last week, there was joy and jubilation with the Olympic heroes from India. All of a sudden, there is more of gloom and worry all around in India. A sense of insecurity which swept the nation with serial blasts seems to have gained momentum with acts of communal violence in Orissa, siege of the Tata Motors plant in Singur, gun firing in Jammu & Kashmir. Even nature seems to be against the nation today with floods lashing in Bihar.

What is more appalling is the level of contradiction in each of these major incidents. Demands of Azaadi in Kashmir came to the forefront with large masses of separatists leading the cause. What Azaadi meant in this context is unclear, atleas to me! Azaadi to carry out trade across the LOC? Azaadi from India? Azaadi from militants? Contradiction can't be more in the face, when those seeking Azaadi, have to be shielded by the same country who have been protecting them for the past 60 years. When militants open fire and hold them hostage, there doesn't seem to be demand for Azaadi.

As has been the case today, terrorists infiltrated across the LOC and have still held civilians hostage. Yesterday, Sajjad Lone made a point when he was asked by a TV anchor about the lives lost by the Indian Army men in protecting and shielding them. His counter argument was the lives lost by Kashmiris because of the recent firing over the economic blockade and Amarnath land transfer. So, as far as the separatists go, if they are killed by militants, it is an everyday affair. While if they are killed by firing at protesters who turn violent, it is a grave affair which demands justice and is the reason for Azaadi. Quite ridiculous and shocking, that the Indian Army has to now go and shield them from terrorists to protect them!

Another case of contradiction is the Singur land controversy. The poor old Left Government there is getting a real dose of its own medicine. Mamata is teaching what Left had been doing with the Central Government, fighting for the rights of the people and farmers in Singur. Incredibly, the West Bengal (WB) Government, is having to stick to its decision in order to send out the right message that WB is indeed a good state to invest in. It is a different matter that they will hold nationwide bandhs, if the fuel prices are raised even though LPG prices after the hike is still Rs. 350 subsidized. Left will continue to strike even if they know that fuel subsidies will dry out fuel from India sooner than later. I wonder, in that case where they will get the fuel for vehicles to send hoards of their supporters to disrupt normal life?

Politics, as they say, has no friends or foes. So, it does mean, those who stick to their word, are non-existent in politics. What is most saddening in all this, is the Kashmir crisis which is disheartening for the entire nation today. When India has been fighting on, and the world knows Pakistan's hand in infiltration bids and bombings, the separatists of Kashmir seek independence. Rather than showing a united stand and working with the Indian Government, they seem to be more inclined towards working with Pakistan. Isn't the infiltration at LOC proof enough of the reason why New Delhi is against trading across LOC ? This is no rocket science to understand. My heart goes out to India and all it's citizens who have loved Kashmir and wish it very well, everyday through out the year. I hope common sense prevails, and Kashmir remains peaceful and a sovereign, integral part of India forever. I can't imagine how Kashmir will be peaceful with a country like Pakistan which is not able to keep its own people under control.

India Wins Wrestling Bronze in Beijing Olympics

sufferingsocrates — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:30:50 EDT

How often does one get to see such a sports headline (courtesy CNN IBN) in India, without any cricket news? Look on the side for the cricket match which is going on at the same time. Well, for once, the whole of India is looking up and noticing and more importantly following the other sports India is faring well in, and that too at the International level. First hailing Abhinav Bindra and now, wrestler Sushil Kumar who won bronze in the 66kg category a short while back.

The newspapers, too, have cricket in the last page, even though India is fighting out in Sri Lanka. The Olympics has taken centre stage (as it well should) over cricket and this is the opportune moment for SAI and other Indian sporting organizations to join hands and build the momentum for a gold winning India. India is supremely talented in the craftsman like sports and the agile ones. This is where the focus should be on. To build on the laurels, to reward accomplishments of these sportsmen and encourage the common Indian, that Sports is a well rewarding profession.

As for cricket, one need not say much, since any cricketer joining IPL makes enough money for many years. Besides, one other reason why India's Sri Lanka tour is not being followed or given as much importance could be due to the lack of excitement in the 50 over format. So, even a debacle in the first ODI did not get much of a chiding from various quarters, while expectations were running sky high for Akhil Kumar.

Could this be the turning point in India's sporting chapter? Will there be encouragement to take up sports such as Shuttle Badminton, Table Tennis, Wrestling, Boxing, Shooting, Archery where India is emerging as a real force to reckon with ? Undoubtedly, with 2 medals in this year's Olympics, India has things going well, and should make sure that the Commonwealth Games in 2010 is given prominence in terms of media coverage and importance than the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The moment is RIGHT NOW ! Can India grab it? We shall see the results in the Commonwealth Games!

Abhinav Bindra Wins Gold Medal At The Olympics

sufferingsocrates — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:41:44 EDT

In news which just came in, Abhinav Bindra won India's first ever individual gold medal at the ongoing Beijing Olympics. The world could say, a first after a century of Olympics ? Nothing to harp about. But for a country, starved of sporting heroes aside of cricket players, which is not even an Olympic event, this is indeed a welcome change. Come to think of it, in Athens 2004, India won its first ever Silver medal through Rajyavardhan Rathore who also featured on Times Magazine's top 100 athletes to watch at this Olympics. And in 2008 India has gone one better.

India needs to shake off it's days of orthodoxy in the field of studies and expand its horizon of fields. There is no dearth of talent in the country of billions. It is a matter of a mental makeover. But, this cannot start without the support of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). With medals at any event, there needs to be a need for greed, to win more, AND more.

SAI needs to take good care of its medal winners, be it at Olympics or at Commonwealth or the Asiad, monetarily and by recognition to encourage sports in the country. A normal middle class family would want to see monetary rewards in their children's sporting honours, to encourage them to participate further. It is encouraging to note Geeth Sethi ,Prakash Padukone, Lakshmi Mittal coming forward to sponsor players, who are genuinely talented and encouraging them.

The best part about today's media is just this. The recognition (sometimes unduly necessitated) that they give to performers and hopefuls is certainly a welcome change, and can only help in India projecting itself as a Sporting nation too. Cricket may earn millions, but unless other sports, which are part of the Olympics are given due importance and recognition, Abhinav Bindras maybe far and few in between.

Does The 'Left' Reflect The Agenda Of The People?

sufferingsocrates — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:26:17 EDT

Ahead of the crucial Confidence Vote that the UPA has to win, to continue it's 5 year full term, the common Indian citizen is in a daze. Dazed, at the turn of events over the past 3 weeks. Finally, Manmohan Singh had enough of politicking, much against his true nature, and just like he set up the great Indian liberalization, he has probably foreseen the importance of the Indo-US Nuclear deal, and done all that he can to set the ball rolling.

Unfortunately, the Left is stuck in the past, and refuses to understand the aam aadmi agenda of their own coalition. After repeated attacks at the Government's inevitable decision to hike fuel prices, the Left parties insisted that the Nuclear deal was more of heeding to imperialism from the U.S. Well, funnily enough, China doesn't seem to oppose the India specific Nuclear Agreement, being a Communist state by itself. Left keeps arguing that India would be subservient to the U.S. just so as to tackle growing Chinese dominance as a World Power.

One wonders what has become of the Left. The Left parties have left the aam admi behind and made matters worse. A month back, the crude oil prices were on the boil, and in a few months' time the Indian Government run Oil majors raised major concerns of their supplies running out and not having sufficient amount to purchase further crude from the market. The Government subsequently raised the prices, inevitably so. The Left, insisted, this was against the common man. Common man, my foot ! How can the common man have access to food,if the transports in the country don't have enough fuel to reach them ? Ridiculously, the citizen loving Left, protested, and organized strikes, paralyzing major transports in the country. During such frivolous strikes, does the common man have a choice of transport ? A choice of working or buying food from the market ?

Left has been extraordinarily contradictory during the entire coalition rule of the UPA. The excess subsidy being still given by Indian oil companies, will eventually bite back the Great Indian growth story. The results are already evident with inflation almost touching the 12% mark. Where a plate of idly in Bangalore used to cost Rs.6 some eight months back, comes at 10 a plate today. Coffee has jumped from Rs 5 to Rs 6 in the past 4 months or so.

Manmohan Singh, being a man of strong principles, put the country ahead of politics, and dared the Left and the Opposition to vote his Government out. Though the UPA is struggling to get the magic figure of 271, Manmohan Singh sure has sent out a strong signal to the Left. And ironically, Manmohan seems to be the one who has the interests of the citizens and the country ahead of politics. Left's reaction to withdrawing from the Government was more a reaction to Manmohan's daredevilry.

Left has yet again proven how contradictory and paradox it's ideologies are, by not considering the huge energy needs that India will have to support in next decade. If the Left, still has some representation in future coalitions, will it then organize strikes because of the lack of energy for the common man ? Of Course Yes ! Left seems more intent on remonstration and not providing any feasible or viable solution. It is forever stuck and blinded by it's own ideological world, and in turn will only harm India's growth and the common man's interest.

At this crucial juncture, when the economy is going through a lull, inflation is on the rise, the Government is fragile, only one man can have his head held high, come what may on July 22nd. Manmohan Singh. He probably has even taken the UPA and the Congress especially aback, with his astuteness and boldness on this mission which was his baby all the while. India should thank this man for all what he has done, and should pray that this Government sees through the Confidence Vote and gets the Nuclear deal through before the Elections kick in.

Wimbledon 2008 - Warrior Rafa Dethrones King Roger

sufferingsocrates — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 09:10:31 EDT

An epic final which was like a blockbuster movie. And in the end, a deserving winner. That is what the Wimbledon 2008 final proved to be. It was show time again, with the World No. 1 Roger Federer, up against the ever improving Rafael Nadal on Centre Court. If last year's 5 set thriller between the same two champions was awe-inspiring, the final this time around was breath taking.

It had drama, suspense, excitement, brilliance, perseverance and emotions. Rafa led Roger 2 sets to love, and had taken the fifth set to a tie breaker after a rain delay. It seemed divine intervention as far as Roger was concerned. Rafa had 2 championship points in the 4th set tie break leading 5-2 and serving for the match. Federer incredibly managed to save them both and took the match to a final set decider. With the last set at 2-2 and deuce, rain again came down on Centre Court, and the players took another break. Would this be a divine intervention again for Federer or for Nadal, who got agonisingly close to winning the coveted crown ?

The time was ticking past 9:00 in the late evening at Wimbledon, but the 2 champions fought on, until Nadal broke Federer in the 15th game of the final set. Nadal, the champion that he is, closed out the match at 9-7 in the final set, dropping to the floor, emotions still running high. An unbelievable match, which is truly a tribute to the relentless shot making and ahtleticism of Nadal, against the grace and genius of Federer.

Rafa has been snapping at Federer's heels for more than a year now. Federer has had a moderate year so far in 2008, and the aura of invincibility seemed to be disappearing after a straight sets loss to World No. 3 Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open semi finals. Federer has only won 2 events this year. For someone who is used to winning 2 Grand Slams before the second half of a year, Federer is empty handed this year, with only the U.S. Open to play for. At 26 Federer is not getting any younger, and Nadal is ready to take the mantle of the best player from Federer.

Any gifted player would have felt proud to have played in an amazing 16 grand slam finals, which included all the 4 major slams. But with Federer, he is expected to win all of them, atleast the non-clay ones. That is what he had been doing, whenever he got to any of the Grand Slam Finals except for the Nadal owned Rolland Garros. Federer had never lost a Grand Slam final on any surface against any player other than French Open. With this loss at Wimbledon, Nadal certainly has dented that record. The funniest part is, Federer is so good, he would still make it to the finals of all the Grand Slams. But does he have the mental strength to overcome the relentless Rafa ?

There have been champions and Grand Slam winners who have hated the grass court tournaments and called them as good only for cows. Marcelo Rios, Ivan Lendl and lately Marat Safin. Though there was always a question mark as to whether a clay court specialist and winner (Nadal at Rolland Garros) can in a span of 2 weeks win a grass court title at Wimbledon, the spirit of the young 22 year old Nadal came through eventually. Never did Nadal complain of the grass court not being his favourite surface. In fact he always dreamt of winning the Wimbledon as a kid, and that kept him motivated to win the crown.

Rafa now leads Federer 12-6 (as on 7th June 2008) in their head to head and Federer has many others waiting to clip his wings, as he fights off opponents younger, more spirited than him. Alfred Tsonga, Djokovic and Nadal are definitely the select few in that club. With only 555 points separating Nadal from Federer for the No. 1 spot, things could change by the end of this year.

But Federer, the champion that he is, will always challenge the best, as long as he is fit. Nadal has done so much of running around courts, through sheer will and stamina, he may not be able to withstand this level of performance for very long. Compare this to the grace of Federer, who is elegance personified, and seems to hit winners off impossible angles, one would think Federer would last atleast 4 more years. Nadal doesn't have a great service which comes to his rescue in times of crisis in a match. Federer can hit aces, at times at will. But with Federer, there is always a susceptibility of losses in concentration, which never happens with Rafa. Especially when Rafa plays Federer, he is at the peak of his game, knowing fully well, that a blip in conecntration is the only chance that Rafa has in winning against Federer.

The great rivalry of the 2 champions, whose styles of play are poles apart can only create more tennis followers and inspire children to take up the game. It would be tough to emulate Roger Federer's game, for his is a game of sheer genius. But one can always emulate and be like Rafa, for the hard working, relentless athlete that he is. To conclude, all one can say is, to defeat a Federer one needs to be a Nadal. But to defeat Nadal, you need not be a Federer.