Just a few quick words about this year’s Australian Open. Congratulations to Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for their efforts in bringing home the trophies. Clijsters is now halfway to the “Kim Slam”. If we are going to make such a big deal about the “Rafa Slam” then we have to give Clijsters her due also. Anyway, Nadal lost in the quarters so we won’t have to debate over whether he would have won a real Grand Slam (he wouldn’t have) or whether he just would have been the title holder of all four Majors consecutively. Congratulations also go out to the Women’s Doubles winners Gisela Dulko and Flavia Penetta who solidified their number one ranking with a Slam win (are you listening Caroline Wozniaki?). The Heroes of the Huddled Masses, the Bryan Brothers won their fifth Men’s Doubles title and now are only one Major away from tying the Woodies for most in the modern era. When will they let the Mixed Doubles play out a match instead of that stupid third set superbreak? Anyway, congrats to Nestor and Srebotnik for winning the Mixed Title.
As much as I’m a fan of Roger Federer I’m sticking to my earlier statements that I do not believe he will win another Major. Too many players have his number now. He has always had trouble with Nadal and I don’t see that changing. Djokovic has beaten him now in two straight Majors. Soderling is not afraid of him now and Berdych never has been. I thought that Federer had turned the corner once more with Annacone as his coach and would play more of an attacking game. But against Djokovic he got into too many long rallies where he just was content to rally and wait for the mistake. Djokovic is too good for him to play that way now. If he wins another Major I will be the first one to retract my statements but I don’t think it’s going to happen. In the same breath I’m still saying that Andy Murray will NEVER win a Slam. I don’t know if the pressure from the British press or what but when he gets in a Slam final he doesn’t bring his “A” game with him. If he ever wins a Slam I will devote an entire column to his doing so. I promise. Shocking to hear that Stan Wawrinka has left his family to concentrate more on his tennis. Unbelievable.
I’m still not buying the whole “injured foot” routine that Serena Williams keeps throwing at us. I still think she had plastic surgery. Too bad for sister Venus to go out with an injury ( a real one). The announcers keep talking about her like she is ancient but she is only thirty. Justine Henin announces her retirement again, this time for good. Or so she says.
Continued good luck in your matches. If you see me on court and actually know who I am you win a “Jerry Rules” tee shirt. No kidding.
