Roland Garros, till now

Seems like another Grand Slam was needed to make me watch more tennis again. Not that I wouldn't have liked to, I was just very busy. But these two weeks no homeworks or studying will take me away from my favourites' matches, I promise!
Here are a few thoughts about what has happened on the Parisian clay courts till now.

In the first round, six of our seven Romanians won their matches. Nice one, people! Unfortunately, the tennis gods were not very giving and planned some of the worst (or best, depends how you think) opponents for them.

Simona Halep def. Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-2, 6-1. Next up: Sam Stosur. (Simona lost, 0-6, 2-6)
Edina Gallovits-Hall def. Angelique Kerber, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Next up: Anastasia Rodionova. (Edina lost, 1-6, 4-6)
Irina-Camelia Begu def. Aravane Rezai, 6-3, 6-3. Next up: Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Victor Hanescu def. Benoit Paire, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6. Next up: Novak Djokovic. (I hate you, tennis gods. I hate you.)

On the other hand, Sorana will face Alexandra Dulgheru, so we are sure we have at least one representative in the third round.

The match which probably shocked the tennis world was the one between Rafa and John. I was speechless at the way Isner managed to play from equal to equal against Nadal, on clay, and pull him into a decisive set. Now, after the way he played, I am really sorry he didn't win. He made history once, he was that close to make it again. But his tennis days are not over, no? ;)

Ryan Harrison, one of the miracle-kids of tennis pulled a set from Soderling and had a break advantage not once. You probably know I was with Robin, but good job, Ryan!

Unfortunately, the other miracle-kid, the bigger one, Raonic, lost in four against Michael Berrer. Too bad, Milos... We're waiting for the US Open though! :)

The inavoidable happened and Federer beat Lopez in three. It's okay, Feli. You win the 'Hottest Player' award anyway!

Well, if that happened in the first round, I don't want to know what can happen in the next ones!
Wait... Yes, I do! Goooo, claaaay!!!

'Happy birthday, Novak!' at Roland Garros (Video)

Aww, look how smiley the birthday-boy is!! :) And his efforts to write in French are hilarious!

Happy birthday, Nole! Happy birthday, champ!

Roddish!

Sounds weird, doesn't it? Well don't blame me! I had to choose between this, Mandy, which, as we know is another player and Fiddick, which sounded to me like a kind of Moby Dick.

But thinking that Roddish means actually Roddick and Fish, it gets pretty awesome even without knowing their results. But, for those who also care about the game, I will tell you what they have done in Rome 'till now. Walking in the city, taking photos with the statues and getting a warm welcome from the Italian birds, as happened with Andy.


Then, getting to serious stuff. In the first round, Berdych and Dlouhy were their victims after a battle like movies, finished in a (really) super-tiebreak, 19-17! In the second round, 8th favourites Moodie and Norman had to bow in front of them after two tight sets, 6-4, 7-6. Yesterday in the quarterfinals a huge thing happened. Bob and Mike, Mike and Bob, remember them? The best team in the world and everything, lost. In front of who? That's right, their lovely American fellows Mardy and Andy. (On clay!)


I guess they are trying to make people forget their results in singles, no? Well, it worked for me. Come ooooon!!!

Nole singing in Romanian! (Video)

I still have a biiig smile plastered on my face. He is actually good. We wait you in a trip to Romania, Nole! But only if you sing (ooor play tennis)! :)

King of the Kings

He has conquered the beautiful and elegant king of all-time tennis, Roger Federer. He has conquered the current king of tennis and the supreme, powerful king of clay, Rafael Nadal. He has conquered everyone's expectations and proved once again who the real world No.1 is. He is Novak Djokovic, the King of the Kings.

He also broke Ivan Lendl's record of 29 consecutive wins. His streak touched 32 victories this year and 34 overall. I think and I hope it is not too soon to talk about the beginning of a new era.

I will not write here everything he has done since the start of the year, end of the last year, actually. It would take too long and probably what even a non-tennis fan knows about this sport this year is one name: Novak Djokovic.

Last night, two masters entered the red court in Madrid to face the biggest challenge for both of them. Rafa was trying to end Novak's streak of 33 victories, obviously. Novak, on the other hand, was trying to stop Rafa's streak of 37 wins on clay. I was speechless the whole match. So strong and determined were both of them that it was a pleasure and a delight to see them. Nole, the one and only, with a knee bandage, after losing the advantage of a break, being down a break and slightly hurting his ankle, managed to resist Nadal, the crowd and the pressure and grab the beautiful expensive trophy.

I won't say anything more, only that it would be unfair if he didn't climb on the top of the rankings. Rome and Roland Garros are next, so it's not the easiest task. But neither mission impossible, as it would have been in the past few years. Ajde Nole!

Sick of Rafole?...

...Who cares? Definetly not them. For the third consecutive time, an ATP Masters 1000 final will feature El Matador and Nole. (Because now, this simple short nickname means more than anything on the tennis map.)

It is my first post about Madrid since qualifications because,-shame on me!-, I haven't really watched anything (school and stuff). Yesterday, on Saturday, the situation was different. I forearmed with popcorn and watched the men's semifinals. Good choice! Rafa Nadal was just himself on clay, in his element, comfortable even when he was a set down against Federer. Many people said during and after the match that Roger played bad, he wasted chances and, those words again, he is down. If losing in the semifinals of a Masters against the clay Master means you are down, I am really sorry for all the other players. Maybe he is not in the best shape of his career, but Roger Federer will never be over until he retires. Because not winning a Grand Slam doesn't mean you're done with tennis. How many players would remain in the circuit if that was true?

On the other hand, Novak served a big scare to many, really many people in his semifinal against Thomaz Bellucci from Brazil. He was down a set and a break and everyone was talking about a possible sudden end of his streak of 31 wins in 2011 (33 overall). Not the case. Remember who you were watching? He managed to save the second set, 6-4. In the decisive, Bellucci was totally on Djokovic's territory. 6-1. The match was over and the best player of the year had booked a place for a final against the best player of the red surface.

This encounter was inevitable, in a good way. Who doesn't want to see this huge match? Their last meeting in Madrid, in the 2009 semifinals, lasted more than 4 hours. It was probably the best match of three sets I have ever seen. Only tennis gods know what will happen today between these two smaller tennis gods and who will hold the Ion Tiriac Trophy at the end of the day...

...the trophy which, by the way, is a very interesting one. I like to see something original, not only the cup type (which is beautiful as well).

Victor's journey in Madrid

To be honest, I realized Hanescu had to play qualifications at Madrid only before his final round, against Marius Copil. This was one of the really few occasions I truly wanted these matches to be streamed. Especially after I found out the amazing score. 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (6) in Victor's favour. The young part of me (which is bigger, because hellooo, I'm a teenager) was sad, because once again it couldn't see the nice and oh-so-pretty guy, but the mature one was saying it was better this way, because Hane had a better chance in the tournament.

Well, he was determined to contradict me and lost in the first round against Xavier Malisse, in something which seemed an entertaining, even thrilling match of three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7. (Just a personal opinion: he could have let Marius win. For me at least. I haven't seen him in a really long time...)

Anyways, we both know in a few days Victor will be all forgiven. But it is sad that he doesn't play at the Top 30 level anymore. Now he is ranked 71 and has to play qualifications, what will happen next with him? What will happen after him with the Romanian tennis? But maybe I'm looking to far in the future. Everyone knows Hanescu is not really a disaster on clay, he still can beat some of those players, doesn't he? :) Haide!

Perfect ATP Winners

In all last week's ATP finals, my favourites won. I can't even remember when was the last time such thing happened. It was the "D Day", as another blogger called it. Davydenko in Munich, Del Potro in Estoril and Djokovic at home in Belgrade, all offered the tennis fans all around the world delightful matches.

Davydenko is back! At my beginnings as a tennis fan, I didn't like him. Probably because he was beating Nadal, Federer and well everybody. When I started to realize what a great player and what a cool person he is, he stopped playing at the same level as before ('cause that's what I do, I jinx people). But this win in Munich (final against Florian Mayer) might be a start to his old form.

I know Kolya, I know! :)

(Talking about cool funny people...)

With Estoril, another big tennis name starts to show what his real place is. Del Potro had great performances lately, everything culminating with the Estoril trophy, won in a simple final against Verdasco. I caught only a few games from one of his matches this week, but I can already say the guy plans a bright comeback. And when Delpo prepares a comeback, watch out, Top 10!

And in Belgrade... What could I say? I am getting kind of bored of writing that 'Novak is still unbeaten' every single week he plays. (To make it clear, I am not getting bored of him winning. I love that!) So, I will start it this way. Novak Djokovic is brilliant. His record for 2011 is 27 or 28-0. I can't even count it anymore. He doesn't get tired of winning and I and many more people don't get tired of seeing him winning. More words would be useless. (Author's note: I love the Djokovic family!).

Here I need to say a few words about the finalist. Feli Lopez didn't have only a good-looking body this week, but also a good-looking game. I knew he is good on clay. I mean, he's a Spaniard. But with all the players whom we could see at Belgrade, this final is a big thing for him. Felicitaciones!

To quote Novak Djokovic from the trophy presentation. "I am so glad when such a nice and well the best looking tennis player wants to come to Belgrade again," were his words. Umm... I don't know what to say...

Oh, okay! I mean, even Nole fancies him!

Mutua Madrid Gala Dinner photos

Here it is. The fourth Masters tournament and one of the most beautiful is here. Last night, past champions as Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer attended a gala dinner at Madrid, along with some former players, also champions here.

Rafa... If Rafa is not in the tennis outfit, he is not Rafa anymore. I prefer him in the sleeveless, to be honest.

About this guy, I don't know why everyone says he should get a haircut. I actually think he looks better this way. You go, Muzza!

And without a doubt, the best dressed of the night was, (as always), Roger Federer. He looks elegant even in a shirt and a pair of shorts, so in a suit like this, he is perfect.

Hello, champ! Carlos Moya couldn't miss from a dinner dedicated to the past Madrid winners.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, who recently came back succesfully on courts, Manolo Santana and the one and only.

And here is one of Romania's biggest players and champions, Ion Tiriac. Welcome, Sir!

And, as you can probably figure out, this is the pair who stole the show for me. My gorgeous favourites Dinara and Marat, dressed all classy, staying together and smiling. Perfection!