Tag Archives: Andy Murray

Doze anos depois do início do romance, em Sidney, Mirka Federer é o pilar da carreira do suíço

Estamos mais do que acostumados a ver a Mirka Federer no box dos jogadores em todos os torneios ao redor do mundo. Mas, chamou a atenção nestes Jogos Olímpicos, especialmente na vitória de Federer sobre Del Potro, vê-la com uniforme do time da Suíça, na quadra central de Wimbledon, se emocionando com a passagem do marido à final, em Londres. Federer garantiu a primeira medalha de simples da carreira.

 

Não é só Mirka que normalmente avistamos na torcida dos tenistas. Namoradas e esposas de jogadores estão sempre em evidência, muitas até querendo aparecer mais do que o próprio atleta. Mas, não em Jogos Olímpicos, muito menos vestindo o uniforme do time do País.

 

Federer deve ter feito questão da presença da esposa na equipe. Afinal, Mirka tem um papel muito maior do que o de esposa e mãe na carreira do número um do mundo. Não fosse essa exigência não seria fácil ter Mirka tão por perto. Claro que longe de ser um Federer, mas o indiano Mahesh Bhupathi outro dia implorava para conseguir um ingresso para que sua esposa assistisse o seu jogo. Por todas essas dificuldades de se fazer parte de uma equipe olímpica, não sendo atleta ou técnico é que não fui para as Olimpíadas com o Guga, nem em Sidney, nem em Atenas.

 

Mas, Mirka, faz parte da vida e da carreira de Federer e ele como talvez único medalhista olímpico da Suíça nestes Jogos de Londres, deve ter tido todo o aval necessário do comitê suíço.

 

Durante muito tempo foi ela que coordenou a agenda de entrevistas de Roger, cuidou da divulgação dele, dos planos de viagens e olha que viajando inúmeras semanas do ano, com um grupo de pessoas, não é tarefa fácil. Eu que tinha fama de megera, em relação a agenda do Guga aqui no Brasil, nos bastidores mundiais, era considerada muito boazinha com os jornalistas, comparada a Mirka.

Ela também cuidava dos patrocínios, relação com parceiros, produtos Roger Federer, além de opinar, sem ser invasiva, na carreira dele.

 

Com o nascimento das filhas e o aumento do número de pessoas no staff de Federer, o papel de Mirka como administradora de comunicação e negócios, diminui, mas não a afastou do dia-a-dia do marido. Por opção de ambos, eles viajam o mundo todo com as filhas. “Não queríamos ficar longe um do outro, e a Mirka é quem cuida de tudo,” contou Roger há alguns meses.

 

Para o técnico de Federer, Paul Annacone, o papel de Mirka é fundamental. “Ela já foi tenista e entende do esporte e dos negócios com uma visão global. Ela dá as opiniões dela, mas nos deixa trabalhar e encontrar esse equilíbrio não é fácil. Ela estava com ele desde o primeiro dia e sabe o que é necessário para se chegar lá. Ela tem um enorme impacto sobre o jogo dele,” disse o treinador em entrevista ao New York Times.

 

O casal começou a namorar há quatro olimpíadas (Sidney 2000), em Sidney, quando Mirka Federer ainda era Miroslava Vavrinec, uma eslovaca que jogava tênis profissional pela Suíça, para onde havia se mudado quando criança com os pais. Enquanto a carreira de Federer chegou a patamares jamais imaginados, conquistando 17 Grand Slams, a de Miroslava, três anos mais velha do que Roger, terminou dois anos depois, devido a uma lesão no pé.

 

Ela então abdicou de uma nova carreira, ou de buscar soluções para a sua lesão e resolveu apoiar a carreira do então namorado.

 

Acabei de ler ontem um livro de ficção, mas com muita informação real, o “Double Fault,” de Lionel Shriver, sobre o mundo do tênis.

O romance gira em torno de um casal de tenistas, em que a mulher, mais velha do que o marido e com ranking bem superior ao dele na época em que se conhecem, vai enlouquecendo ao ver o companheiro subindo na listagem e ela descendo.

Hoje ao ver Mirka vibrando pelo marido, fiquei pensando na história de Willy e Eric, que apesar de ser uma ficção mostra com detalhes e conhecimento o dia-a-dia de tenistas e treinadores pelo tour e a competitividade que norteia a vida dos atletas.

Durante um certo momento do livro, Willy coloca no papel as suas opções de vida, depois de uma lesão no joelho a afastar do circuito. Duas envolvem acompanhar a carreira do marido: simplesmente viajar com Eric e torcer, ou gerenciar a carreira dele, reservar hotéis, cuidar dos patrocínios, entre outros. Willy admite para ela mesma que não conseguiria fazer isso. Afinal, o que Eric estava vivendo, o estrelato no circuito profissional, era o que ela mais havia sonhado.

Mirka admite ter passado por um momento difícil, segundo relato do livro “Roger Federer, em Busca da perfeição, de Renne Stauffer.”

Quando conheceu Federer estava no auge do ranking na posição de número 76, mas com a lesão no pé chegou a ficar oito meses parade em casa, enquanto Federer competia. “Ficou um vazio na minha vida. Foi muito difícil ficar em casa e só assistir tênis pela televisão, uma coisa que era a minha vida. O Roger foi quem mais me deu apoio. Ele devolveu o tênis à minha vida”

Diferente da hsitória do livro, em vez de querer sumir, apesar do momento pessoal difícil, optou por ficar ao lado de Roger e exercer papel fundamental tanto dentro como fora das quadras.

 

“Sei que sou sortudo. Sei que não é uma situação normal, a de ter uma família feliz viajando comigo e ainda de contar com uma mulher que foi jogadora e que me entende. Aliás, foi por causa dela que comecei a tomar tanto cuidado com a minha saúde. Até hoje, mesmo depois de tantos anos, o meu corpo resiste muito mais do que o dela,” contou Roger ao New York Times.

E é com Mirka que ele vai contar como seu principal apoio, na busca pelo ouro olímpico, diante de Andy Murray e de toda uma Grã-Bretanha. “Ela é o meu pilar.”   

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Rafa parte II – escrevendo coluna de Melbourne

E para complementar o post que escrevi ontem sobre o Nadal, aqui vai o link da coluna que ele escreveu hoje para o jornal de Melbourne, The Age.

 

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/win-or-lose-its-a-good-start-20120125-1qi2u.html

 

A coluna não é muito longa, nem excepcional. Ele mesmo conta que escreveu com o PR dele, o Benito Perez Barbadillo, com quem trabalhei muitos anos no circuito. Mas, é uma outra maneira de deixar o espanhol ainda mais perto dos fãs. Por isso, vale a leitura.

HELLO everybody. Well, this is new for me to write a column for a newspaper before a semi-final match. I suppose there’s always a first time for everything.

I do have to say I have what they call a ghost writer for this piece, which is my PR guy Benito Perez-Barbadillo since, (1) my English is not that good, and (2) he can help me express myself a bit better as he knows this world better than me.

Here I am again in a semi-final of the Australian Open. After the past two years reaching the quarters of this tournament and not being able to finish well in the matches – I had to retire in 2010 against Andy Murray and last year got injured after the third game against David Ferrer – finally I am playing again in a semi and I’m very excited about it.

For me, it is very important and a happy moment to start the season. Win or lose, it is a good start considering the end of the season I had last year with many doubts.

It is always special to play against Roger (Federer), for many reasons, but for me to play against arguably the best player of all time – together with Rod Laver – is always something special.

This is the tenth time I have played him at a grand slam tournament and in most of the previous encounters we played the final.

He is playing amazing. Remember when many were saying he was done? Well, here it is. I always said it, he is a great champion.

Many people have asked me about my memories of the last match I played against him here in Australia. It was the 2009 final and that is one of the matches that will always stay in my memory.

After that very hard and physical semi-final, I never thought I could go out and play the final with many chances to win. We both played a great match, a beautiful match and I managed to win that one. That meant for me something special since it has been the only time I’ve won this event.

I am sure this semi-final will be another great match – hopefully very different to the last match we played in London, and I hope all the fans will enjoy watching.”

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De Londres

Fazia tempo que não escrevia diretamente de Londres. Há uns anos não vinha para Wimbledon e como os Jogos Olímpicos serão aqui no ano que vem, resolvi mudar o meu itinerário neste ano.

A viagem – via Frankfurt – foi longa, mas pelo menos, entre um  vôo e outro deu para eu me atualizar lendo os diversos jornais europeus e os ingleses é claro, destacando a estreia de Murray – é a MurrayMania e o quarteto fantástico do tênis: Nadal, Federer, Djokovic e Murray. É sobre isso que todos falam. Os quatro tem chances de vencer o Grand Slam inglês.

Acabei chegando mais tarde do que esperava no hotel em Londres – as andanças nos aeroportos de Frankfurt e Heathrow foram longas e teriam sido piores, muito mais demoradas, se eu não tivesse o meu passaporte húngaro. Confesso que me senti um estrangeiro quando chega no Brasil e enfrenta aquela fila da imigração interminável de horas, ao sair do avião na Alemanha e me deparar com um caracol de pessoas se espremendo no salão de trânsito para apresentar o passaporte e entrar no saguão principal do aeroporto. Foi um alívio quando vi o balcão de cidadãos da comunidade européia com uma fila muito menor e que andava rápido. O mesmo aconteceu na chegada em Londres.

E eu que vira na internet que os jogos estava acontecendo em Wimbledon, me iludi ao pousar na Terra da Rainha. O sol que o piloto disse que estava brilhando em Londres já tinha dado lugar a nuvens e pousamos debaixo de chuva.

Ou seja, poucos jogos aconteceram hoje. Não tive tempo de ver o jogo do Bellucci e com a noite chegando, ao entrar no hotel, já não valia a pena fazer a viagem para Wimbledon.  Sentei no bar e como os turistas fugindo da chuva, assisti um pouco do jogo do Murray por lá. 

Amanhã estarei lá.

 

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Muito se falou de Djokovic, mas Federer rouba a cena de novo e decide com Nadal em Roland Garros

Faz umas três semanas, logo que a edição 113 da Tennis View ficou pronta com Rafael Nadal na capa venho escutando de amigos, colegas jornalistas, fãs de tênis que deveríamos ter colocado o Novak Djokovic na capa em vez do espanhol

Expliquei que o sérvio havia estampado a capa na edição de dezembro/janeiro, com a conquista da Davis e que o Nadal é o atual campeão de Roland Garros e joga pelo hexacampeonato para igualar Bjorn Borg. Por isso, mesmo com Djokovic tendo vencido os últimos torneios, optamos pelo Nadal na capa, sabendo sempre que num Grand Slam tudo é diferente e como bem disse Mats Wilander logo no início da quinzena em Paris, Federer tem 16 títulos de Grand Slam, Nadal tem 9 e Djokovic apenas 2.  Isso faz diferença.

Nadal perdeu apenas um jogo em sete participações no Grand Slam francês. Ganhou cinco títulos e apesar de ter começado o torneio um pouco longe do seu ideal de confiança, disputando cinco sets com John Isner na primeira rodada, está na sua sexta final em Paris. Derrotou Andy Murray por 64 75 64 e no domingo desafiará Federer em mais uma decisão de Grand Slam. Será o nono confronto entre eles em finais de Grand Slam e o quarto em Paris, com Nadal vencendo as três.

Nesta sexta, o espanhol completou 25 anos de idade e após a vitória sobre Murray disse que vai comemorar bastante, afinal não é todo dia que se está em uma final de Grand Slam, especialmente depois do jeito que o torneio começou para ele.

“:  I was saying each week is different.  Each day is different.  Each time I’m here to answer your questions, I’m telling you the truth.  That is what I feel.  Each time I’m in front of you, I’m telling you the truth.

To start with, in the tournament I was not playing that well.  I was saying at the time, I have to change the situation, I have to have a better attitude, otherwise I could walk back home is what I said.

But, fortunately, things have changed for me, and I was very present on the crucial points.  It was positive for me, and I’m going to celebrate, because reaching the finals of Roland Garros is not something easy.

Well, you know, this is something that people would dream of, reaching the finals.  Nobody’s ever certain that they can reach the finals.  Today this is a dream come reality to me.  I’m really happy to be playing the finals for one of the most important tournaments in the world on clay, so I have all the reasons to be satisfied.

As you know I’ve had to overcome very difficult situations in the past one‑and‑a‑half weeks.  I have reached the finals, that’s true, and I’m very happy.

I had to forget about this type of anxiety or the fears I had something like two weeks ago, and now I have gained more confidence.  Well, during the first rounds, the first round, the second round, I was not feeling that confident.

I thought I shouldn’t lose any of these matches; otherwise my ranking is going to be impacted.  But now I have more confidence.  I think I fought for all the important points.  I have no fears concerning my ranking any longer.

It’s not going to go down, so to me this is a splendid year.  This is what counts.  This is what I’ll take away with me, what I remember, a very good year.

I’m really very satisfied.  Maybe I have had a few incidents, but apart from this I’m really, really happy.  The rest does not really matter.  I remember the positive sides.”

Federer parecia tão feliz quanto Nadal por estar na final. Derrotou Djokovic por 76 63 36 76 e tentará o bicampeonato em Paris depois de passar quase desapercebido durante as duas semanas na capital francesa. “Com toda atenção em cima do Djokovic e do Rafa nunca tive um Roland Garros tão tranquilo,” chegou a afirmar o suíço.

Wilander já havia dito em sua coluna no Jornal L’Equipe que Federer está jogando o melhor tênis no saibro da sua vida.

O próprio suíço, em entrevista ao mesmo jornal francês, antes de Roland Garros começar disse que preparou seu jogo no saibro e treinou duro com sua equipe por semanas seguidas. É, ele teve que ir atrás da concorrência e subiu seu nível de jogo para fazer uma das apresentações mais belas da sua história em Paris, como ele mesmo afirmou após a vitória.

Is this the best match you have played in the year 2011?

ROGER FEDERER Yeah.  I would think so, yeah.  I hope it was, because I thought it was played at a very high level for a very long time.

I can only talk about myself, but I thought I did really well today.  It was a tough start, really, where I was able to break.  There was break backs, because that’s kind of how we play against each other.  It’s so intense and he’s such a good return player that I always know he’s got something in his racquet to really break me, as well.

I really wanted to make it as physical as possible, which I was able to make it happen.  I think the end of the first and beginning of the second set was key to, you know, the outcome almost in the fourth set.

So I was really happy the way I played.  I thought at the end it was also quite mental, you know, both of us know that whoever is going to win the set, either it’s over or we have to come back tomorrow, which makes it more tricky.

So for this reason obviously I’m somewhat relieved that I don’t have to come back tomorrow, even that would have been no problem.  I thought it was a great match from both sides, really.

I said it earlier, I wasn’t here to spoil the party.  I mean, just trying to put in a good match and trying to get to the French Open finals, which I’m now obviously happy I’m able to.

But almost feels somewhat like I’ve won the tournament, which is not the case, you know.  Silverware is still out there to be won, and I’m looking forward to the match with Rafa, which I guess is my true rival for the last ‑‑ all those years, you know, since he became world No. 1.”

Se serve de consolo para Djokovic, que jogava para alcançar o posto de número um do mundo e quebrar o recorde de vitórias seguidas, Federer tinha o que dizer para ele: .  I told him at the net as well.  I said I think his record speaks for itself, how great he’s played already this season, and it’s not even over yet.  He can still achieve so much more this year.

And, yeah, I thought we played some great tennis.  The way the crowd got into it, as well, towards the end of the match, I mean, the way they back me here in Paris is just an amazing feeling.  So obviously I know I’m very privileged to live this in my career.

 

Alguns números da final:

 

ATP rankings update

 

Rafael Nadal can retain his world No. 1 ranking if he wins the title here. If Nadal fails to win the title, Novak Djokovic will overtake him as No. 1 when the ATP World Tour Rankings are released on Monday 6 June.

 

Tracking the rivalry…

 

Today marks the 19th Federer v Nadal tournament final, moving them into 2nd place for the most meetings in a final in the Open Era. Nadal has a 45-17 win-loss record in finals, Federer 67-29.

 

Nadal and Federer go head-to-head for the 8th time in a Grand Slam final, extending their record for the most meetings between 2 players in a Grand Slam final.

Grand Slam Final match-ups (all-time)

  Number Tournaments
Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal 8 Roland Garros 2006-08 and 2011, Wimbledon 2006-08,
Australian Open 2009
Bill Tilden v William Johnston 6 US Champs 1919-20, 1922-25
Jean Borotra v Rene Lacoste 5 Wimbledon 1924-25, Roland Garros 1925, 1929, US Champs 1926
Rod Laver v Roy Emerson 5 Australian Champs 1961-62, Roland Garros 1962, US Champs 1961-62
Roy Emerson v Fred Stolle 5 Australian Champs 1964-65, Wimbledon 1964-65, US Champs 1964
Ivan Lendl v Mats Wilander 5 Australian Open 1983, Roland Garros 1985, 1987, US Open 1987-88
Andre Agassi v Pete Sampras 5 Australian Open 1995, Wimbledon 1999, US Open 1990, 1995, 2002

 

2011 leaders

 

Nadal has the most wins in the men’s game this year, having overtaken Novak Djokovic at the top of the leader board after his semifinal victory here. Federer is in 3rd place after ending Djokovic’s 41-match winning streak in 2011.

 

Most wins in 2011

Rafael Nadal 42-6

Novak Djokovic 41-1

Roger Federer 34-7

Robin Soderling 32-8

Nicolas Almagro 31-10

David Ferrer 31-10

 

 

Nadal going for 6

 

Nadal is bidding to become just the second man in history to win 6 titles here, after Bjorn Borg who won 6 times between 1974 and 1981. Borg won his 6th title on his 8th appearance at Roland Garros, while Nadal is hoping to win his 6th title on his 7th appearance here.

 

Roland Garros title leaders

Bjorn Borg 6 (1974-75, 1978-81)

Rafael Nadal 5 (2005-08, 2010)

Henri Cochet 4 (1926, 1928, 1930, 1932)

 

Head-to-head: Nadal leads 16-8

2004            AMS Miami                        Hard (O)            R32            Nadal                        63 63

2005            AMS Miami                        Hard (O)            FR            Federer                        26 67(4) 76(5) 63 61

2005             Roland Garros                        Clay (O)            SF            Nadal                        63 46 64 63

2006             Dubai                                    Hard (O)            FR            Nadal                        26 64 64

2006            AMS Monte Carlo            Clay(O)                        FR            Nadal                        62 67(2) 63 76(5)

2006            AMS Rome                        Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                        67(0) 76(5) 64 26 76(5)

2006            Roland Garros                        Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                         16 61 64 76(4)

2006            Wimbledon                        Grass (O)            FR            Federer            60 76(5) 67(2) 63

2006            Tennis Masters Cup            Hard (I)                        SF            Federer                        64 75

2007            AMS Monte Carlo            Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                        64 64

2007            AMS Hamburg                        Clay (O)            FR            Federer                        26 62 60

2007            Roland Garros                        Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                        63 46 63 64

2007             Wimbledon                        Grass (O)            FR            Federer            76(7) 46 76(3) 26 62

2007             Tennis Masters Cup            Hard (I)                        SF            Federer                        64 61

2008            AMS Monte Carlo            Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                        75 75

2008            AMS Hamburg                        Clay(O)                        FR            Nadal                        75 67(3) 63

2008            Roland Garros                        Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                        61 63 60

2008            Wimbledon                        Grass (O)            FR            Nadal                        64 64 67(5) 67(8) 97

2009            Australian Open            Hard (O)            FR            Nadal                        75 36 76(3) 36 62

2009            Madrid-1000                        Clay (O)            FR            Federer                        64 64

2010            Madrid-1000                        Clay (O)            FR            Nadal                        64 76(5)

2010            ATP World Tour Finals            Hard (I)                        FR            Federer                        63 36 61

2011            Miami-1000                        Hard (O)            SF            Nadal                        63 62

2011            Madrid-1000                        Clay (O)            SF            Nadal                        57 61 63

 

This is the pair’s first meeting at a Grand Slam since the 2009 Australian Open final. The last time they met at Roland Garros was in 2008 when Nadal was responsible for Federer’s worst ever defeat in terms of games won in the most one-sided Roland Garros final since 1977. Federer also lost a set 60 for the 1st time since 1999. Federer has taken 3 sets off the Spaniard in 4 previous meetings here.

 

Nadal is one of just 2 active players who have had more than one career meeting with Federer to hold a winning head-to-head, the other is Andy Murray (8-6).

NADAL v FEDERER

 

25^            Age 29

6’1”/1.85m            Height 6’1”/1.85m

1            ATP Ranking 3

40,052,402            Career Earnings (US$)* 62,497,310

2,656,239            2011 Earnings (US$)* 1,436,951

45            Career Titles 67

2            2011 Titles 1

130-18            Career Grand Slam Record 219-31

9 Grand Slam titles            Best Grand Slam Result 16 Grand Slam titles

44-1            Roland Garros Record 49-11

514-107            Career Record 777-181

226-18            Career Record – Clay 163-49

42-6            2011 Record 34-7

23-2            2011 Record – Clay 12-3

15-3            Career Five-Set Record 18-14

3            Comebacks from 0-2 Down 6

124-80            Career Tiebreak Record 299-152

5-4            2011 Tiebreak Record 13-4

*Earnings as at 23 May 2011

^Nadal turned 25 on 3 June 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fotos de Cynthia Lum

 

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O poster de Roland Garros 2011 – para começar a entrar no clima de Paris

 

Nem dá para acreditar que Roland Garros começa daqui a pouco mais de duas semanas. Para começar a entrar no clima do Grand Slam francês, coloco aqui a imagem do “affiche” deste ano, feito pelo artista de Camarões, Barthelemy Toguo. Ele é o primeiro artista africano a fazer o poster do “French Open,” desde que o campeonato inaugurou esta tradição em 1980. Até Joan Miró já ilustrou o “affiche” de Roland Garros (1991).

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Djokovic comprova evolução mental e física na conquista do Australian Open

Lembro logo que o Australian Open começou de ter ouvido uma pergunta para o Djokovic, após uma de suas vitórias, que me chamou a atenção. A questão era. Desde Roland Garros você vem melhorando de produção nos Grand Slams. Foi às quartas em Paris, à semi em Wimbledon e a à final no US Open. Vai ganhar o Australian Open?

Sim, Novak Djokovic, o “Imperador da Sérvia,” ganhou o  seu segundo título de Grand Slam, convincentemente, derrotando Federer na semifinal e Andy Murray na decisão, por 6/4 6/2 6/3, sem falar do Berdych nas quartas.

Como a comparação da evolução dos resultados nos Grand Slams, a vitória para a Sérvia na Copa Davis, no fim do ano, é notória a evolução mental, física (lembra quando ele tinha que abandonar jogos, especialmente no calor, por não aguentar fisicamente?) e técnica do seu jogo.

Para duelar de igual para igual com Federer e Nadal, teve que  fazer mudanças em todos os planos do seu jogo.

Mudanças que ele mesmo explica e que foram principalmente mentais e físicas. Como costuma dizer o colunista de preparação física e mental da Tennis View, o internacional Steve Jack, não há como separar a mente do corpo. Djokovic comprova.

Veja o que ele disse na entrevista coletiva do campeão do Australian Open 2011.

N  Djokovic – 30 01 11 1

Q.  Do you think you could play any
better than this?  Is it a perfect match that
you expected, that you dream of, or not?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  This was a great match.  From the start to the last point, I did what I intended of doing tactically, what I talked with my coach, what I prepared for.  Physically I was very fit. I had two days between the semifinals and finals match, which was important at this stage of the tournament.  Because I was aware of the fact that I
am going to — yeah, bring it to me.  (Laughter.)  That will have long rallies and I will have a player who doesn’t miss a lot, a very talented player who is one of the best returners in the game.  And, yeah, you know, I had to step in.  That was the key.  When I had the chance to step in and try to move him around the court, that’s what I did.  Probably the turning point was the last game of the first set where we had some incredible exchange from the baseline, long rallies, and some passing shots that turned the
match around.  You know, when you have a set advantage, it’s much different, you know, instead of getting into the match.

Q.  It’s been three years between getting one of those.  Do you feel like now that you’re older and more experienced, it
won’t be as long the next time?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yes, I feel like more experienced player.  I feel a better player
now than I was three years ago, because I think that physically I’m stronger, I’m faster, mentally I’m more motivated on the court.  I know how to react in certain moments, and I know how to play on a big stage.  It’s the best way that I could ask for to start a season.

Q.  How did you fix your serve?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, hitting thousands and thousands of balls on the practice.  It’s all about hard work and patience, I guess, dedication to the hard work which in the end pays off.  That’s the situation.  There is no secrets.  Of course, I was aware of what I do wrong.  But once it gets into your head, it’s really hard to get it out of your habit.  Everybody was, you know, criticizing me, Why did I change my serve?  I didn’t change it intentionally.  It just came like that.  I worked hard the last 10 months, and
now it’s back.

Q.  You took a tough loss here last year, Roland Garros obviously, and then even
Wimbledon.  Did something happen in between Wimbledon and the hard courts where you regained confidence?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Something switched in my head, because I am very
emotional on and off the court
.  I show my emotions.  This is the way I am.  Everybody’s
different.  The things off court were not working for me, you know.  It reflected on my game, on my
professional tennis career.  But then, you know, I settled some things in my head.  It was all on me. You know, I had to try to find the best possible solution and try to get back on the right track.  That’s what I did.

Q.  Can you talk about some of those secrets that you discovered about yourself that helped you get back on track?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  As I said, you know, something switched in my head.  It’s been a big mental struggle, because I was trying to separate my, of course, professional life from my
more private life.  But, you know, if somebody’s emotional — we’re all humans.  It’s not possible.  If something isn’t working off court, then it’s going to reflect on the court.  I managed to solve that problems.
This is all part of life.  Of course, everybody’s facing difficult situations in their lives.  To overcome the crisis and to stand up
and try to still dedicate yourself to the sport was a big success for me as a person.

Q.  You said you were sure Andy would win one one day.  What makes you sure?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I just said.  He’s, first of all, a very talented player and he’s a hard
worker.  He’s been in finals three times, and he just needs to make that final step.
Of course, it’s not easy.  You could see his struggle and frustrations tonight, because he
felt his chances to win a first Grand Slam trophy tonight.
But, you know, it’s a learning process, I guess.  It wasn’t easy for me, as well.  I know
how he feels.  I’m sure that he knows how he feels the best.  He’s still young.  I’m sure he’s
gonna have more chances to win it, so…

Q.  Three sets to Federer and three sets to Murray.  How different were you  feeling against Federer and Murray?  When
you were more worried?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  You’re always worried, the semifinals and finals of Grand Slam.
You have your own worries and little pressure and expectations and things that you feel during the match.
But, you know, you work hard to be mentally prepared for these moments and physically fit to overcome the long five-setters.

You know, both of those matches were different, because I played against two different types of
players.  You know, I take always one match at a time.  I try not to look who I’m going to play, you
know, in the later stages of the tournament, even though maybe as a top player I’m expected to.
But, you know, it’s always been like that.  I always try to take one match at a time.

Q.  You have so much in common.  What’s the difference between having two Grand Slams and not having one?  What’s the
difference between you, do you feel?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, it’s hard to say.  What do you mean?

Q.  Do you feel for him it’s a mental issue in the big matches?  You looked very confident and strong out there tonight.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, it is in some ways a mental issue when you are facing a
situation, playing the finals of a Grand Slam, being so close to winning a title.  Every time you get it there, you know, you want to win it badly, but some things go wrong.  You’re thinking too much.  You’re worrying too much in your head.
It’s a mental battle, definitely.  Bottom line is that this is a very mental sport in the end
.  Everybody
is very fit.   I think tennis has improved so much in the last couple of years.  It’s incredible.  To compare the tennis from 2007, ‘8, to the tennis of 2010, ’11, I have the feeling the ball is traveling much faster, they’re big hitters, big servers.
So in order to keep up, you have to be always dedicated professional and consistent with your success.

Q.  There are a few people saying now that because Rafa and Roger went out before the final, the tide is turning, a changing of the guards, so to speak. Do you feel that’s the case?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Still Rafa and Roger are the two best players in the world.  No question about that.  You can’t compare my
success and Murray’s success to their success.  They’re the two most dominant players in the game for a while.  All the credit to them.  It’s nice to see that there are some new players in the later stages of Grand Slams fighting for a title.  That’s all I can say.

Q.  Some of your footwork was outstanding.  At the end when you took your shoes off to throw them into the crowd, you
took out the insoles.  Do you have to have special insoles?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yes.  That’s the secret to my footwork.  You got me there
(smiling).

Q.  The Davis Cup win and now this, the last two months, has this been the best period in your life so far?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  On the tennis court, yes.  Yeah, Davis Cup title and another Grand Slam title.  I’m living the dream of a tennis player, definitely.

Q.  Are you more focused than ever on your game?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yeah, I’m very focused.  Yes, I have been more focused and dedicated to the sport than I have ever been before.

Q.  There are only two players but Nadal and Federer that have won two slams, you and Hewitt.  Hewitt when he did it, he
stopped.  What do you expect from yourself, to win many?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I don’t want to stop here.  Definitely I want to keep my body healthy,
fit, and ready for some more challenges to come.

I feel that I have a good game for all the surfaces.  I have proven that in the past.

Q.  Which ones?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Hard court.  Hard
court is my favorite surface.  Two finals in US
Open and two finals here.  It’s obvious; results
are showing everything.
But, still, I feel I can do well at French
Open and Wimbledon.

Q.  You’ve driven yourself to the point of exhaustion, overplaying, in previous seasons.  How do you avoid doing that again
this year?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Well, I think you’re getting wiser by the time of being a part of this
sport.  You are more aware of the things that you should do and not do.  I was spending too much
energy on the things I shouldn’t spend on.  I mean, it’s school, a learning process.
That’s why I have a big team around me of people who are organizing my time and making me feel a bit released and making me perform the best that I can on the court.

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Nadal perde embate com Ferrer e se nega a falar sobre a lesão no Australian Open

Rafael Nadal enfrentou nesta quarta-feira em Melbourne, primeiro David Ferrer e após ser eliminado pelo amigo, por 6/4 6/2 6/3, nas quartas-de-final, na Rod Laver Arena, enfrentou os jornalistas na coletiva de imprensa.

Nadal insistiu em não falar sobre a lesão que sentiu no primeiro set. Primeiro por não saber sobre o que de fato aconteceu – virilha? -, já que a partida havia terminado há poucos minutos, depois por respeito ao adversário e amigo que “jogou muito tênis” e também por não querer usar a lesão como desculpa para cada derrota que tem.

O fato é que mesmo os super-heróis do esporte são humanos. O corpo de Nadal já vinha dando sinas de cansaço desde o torneio de Doha e apesar dele ter dito que estava se sentindo superbem antes do jogo contra Ferrer, em algum momento o corpo pede descanso.

O tão falado Rafa Slam ficará para um outro momento, ou um outro jogador. Antes do Grand Slam australiano começar, Nadal mesmo admitia que essa chance era praticamente única e que seria difícil chegar perto disso novamente, ganhar tantos Grand Slams na sequência.

Transcrevo aqui as partes mais interessantes do embate entre Nadal e os jornalistas no Australian Open.

D. FERRER/R. Nadal

6-4, 6-2, 6-3

RAFAEL NADAL

Q.  What can you tell us about the

injury?  What did David say to you at the end

of the match?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I can say nothing

about the injury.  Seriously, I would prefer don’t

talk a lot about the injury.

Tonight, first of all, I don’t know nothing.

Second thing, for respect to the winner and to a

friend, I prefer to talk about the match.  I think he

played at a very high level.  I just congratulate

him and wish him all the best for the semifinal.  I

think he’s doing a fantastic tournament.  If he

keep playing like this, he going to have a good

chances.

What David told me at the net is for me

and that’s it.

Q.  How emotional is it for you

tonight?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Yes, is a difficult day

for me.  I lost in quarterfinals another time.  So I

tried my best.  I couldn’t do more.  Tonight I think

I played against a great player, a great opponent.

Today I really can’t do more than what I did.  So

he played at a very high level, and I wasn’t able

to compete against him tonight.

Q.  It’s going to be difficult for us to

write a piece without appreciating how well

you could move.  It seemed to us you

couldn’t move as well as you would like to

have been moving tonight.  Is that a fair

statement?

RAFAEL NADAL:  You see the match?

Q.  Yes.

RAFAEL NADAL:  So you are ready to

write everything.  I don’t have to tell you about

what I felt on the court because I tried my best all

the time.  But is obvious that I didn’t feel at my

best.  I had a problem during the match, in the

very beginning.  After that, the match was almost

over.  So that’s what I can say.

But you know what, for me is difficult

come here and speak about.  In Doha I wasn’t

healthy.  Today I have another problem.  Seems

like I always have problems when I lose, and I

don’t want to have this image, no?  I prefer don’t

talk about that today.  If you can respect that, will

be a very nice thing for me.  Thank you.

Q.  What was the problem, though?

RAFAEL NADAL:  You are listening me?

I can’t tell you which problem I have.  First thing,

because I don’t know.  That’s my answer.

Q.  What you achieved in the last year

was nothing short of amazing.  Does this

break your heart a little bit that it had to

happen like this?

RAFAEL NADAL:  The tennis career,

you have higher moments and lower moments.  I

had almost all the time very, very happy

moments and very nice moments in my career.

That’s part of the sport.  Last year I was very

lucky.  I was healthy most of the year.  I was

playing unbelievable during all the year.

This year I did I think all the right things

to start the season playing really well.  And,

seriously, I was playing like this in the first

exhibition in Abu Dhabi.  After that starts the

problem.  Was a difficult month for me, no?

That’s part of the sport.  Accept; keep

working; try my best in the next tournament.

That’s what I can do.

Last year I had a fantastic year.  This

year the year just start.  Last year in the

beginning I had problems, too, and finally was

the best season of my career.  I think is almost

impossible to repeat that.  But remain a lot, and

remain a lot to have hopefully really good

moments, and at the same time, too, really

negative moments.

So this is one of bad ones, one of

negative moments.  That’s part of the sport.  I

think I am very, very lucky sportsman about what

happened in my career.  And I have to accept the

fantastic moments that I had during a lot of years

with the same calm that when I have problems.

And if I am ready to accept both things with I

think let’s say everything the same, I going to be

able to come back and play my best tennis

another time.

Q.  How do you think David will get on

in the semifinals?

RAFAEL NADAL:  He’s playing fantastic.

But I think he’s not the favorite.  But if he keep

playing like this, hopefully he can have a good

chance to be in the final or win the tournament.  I

would love.  Is a fantastic person.  Is a close

friend of mine.  So I wish him all the best.

I think that Andy is playing very good,

too, but David is playing at high level, no?

Q.  After what happened in Doha,

coming here a little bit late…

RAFAEL NADAL:  Coming late?

Q.  You were ill in Doha and came to

Melbourne a little bit late.

RAFAEL NADAL:  I didn’t came late.

You are wrong.  I was here one week before the

tournament.  Is more than enough.

Q.  The question is, with you being ill

in Doha, then what happened after the Tomic

match, did you feel that maybe this

tournament wasn’t meant to be, wasn’t

destiny to win?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I tried my best in

Doha.  Was a difficult week for me.  Here,

seriously, before the match of today I started to

feel that I am playing much better and I am very

healthy and don’t have no problem in general.

So I was happy about happened during the first

week because I was through without being

perfect.

I started the second week with a very

good match against Cilic and improving my level

every day.  Seriously, I was practicing much

better than in the beginning of the tournament,

and I felt ready to play this quarterfinals.  But

wasn’t the day.

Q.  What will be your next

tournament?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I don’t know yet.  I

have to think a little bit about everything and we

will see what’s going on in the next weeks.

Q.  We appreciate your fair play, and

we understand what you’re saying.  I just

would like to know if you didn’t have in front

of you a friend of yours, would you have kept

till the last ball and point to stay on court or

would you have left a little before?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I hate the retirements,

so this wasn’t the day.  I did last year.  I hate that

moment.  I didn’t want to repeat that.

Q.  The match against Cilic showed

you were recovering well.  Did you feel

anything unusual the last couple days?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I felt fantastic the last

couple days.  I practiced very good yesterday.  I

had a fantastic warmup today before the match.

Only feeling that I can say was very positive.  I

started the second week, and when the second

week started, everything was better and better

for me:  the health, sweat, the level of tennis.

Everything was better and better.

Q.  Earlier today Andy Murray said

there’s a number of guys on tour who on any

given day can beat each other:  yourself,

Robin, Roger…

RAFAEL NADAL:  I didn’t understand.

Q.  He said any one of the top six or

seven players on any day can beat each

other.  Do you think after the year you had

last year, our expectations of you are

probably higher than yours, given the

evenness of the top six or seven players?

RAFAEL NADAL:  For me there are

much more than six or seven on the tour that can

beat everybody.  I think is more than these few.

In general, the expectations, I don’t know which

expectations you have about me.  I have my

ones.  I have my goals.  Probably we think

different ways, no?

I live day to day with myself.  You see

everything from outside.  I know how difficult is

everything.  Probably, you know, not exactly the

same.  This part is difficult, no?  This part is very

competitive.  You have to have be in perfect

conditions to win.  The season is always crazy,

very long.  You can’t have time to rest and come

back to prepare perfect in a season.  That’s this

game.  Only the best players, only the more

prepared players physically and mentally are

ready to be here and to be in the top positions a

long time.

My expectations, I said before the

tournament, I said before the year start, is enjoy

every day and practice hard every day with same

illusion, humble and motivation that I did all my

career.  So that’s my principal goal, in general,

no?

I lost in quarterfinals today.  We’ll see

what’s happen in next tournament.  I’ll work hard

to be ready.

Q.  Can you tell us your feelings

tonight compared to this time last year?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Is different because

last year was the knees.  I had a problem, big

problem, in the knee in the past.  So was hard for

me to have another time the same.  I didn’t see a

solution in that.  Is not the case.

I came last year after probably six, seven

months really hard for me of injuries and of

problems in general.  So was a hard situation.

This year everything is a little bit different.  I have

three more Grand Slams at home, a few more

Masters 1000s and a few more tournaments.

I can say nothing wrong because I had a

fantastic time last year.  Not possible be all the

time at hundred percent.  Not possible all the

time to have all the positive factors together to

win in every tournament.

Last year happened in almost every one.

This year we start with a little bit of unlucky.  I

gonna work hard to come back and to keep

having chances and to compete against the best

players and to keep being in the top positions of

the ranking, so…

I love playing tennis.  I love the

competition.  And I love, in general, the hard

moments because you are ready to change the

situation working hard, working every day with a

goal and with illusion.

Q.  You said your preparation was

good for this year.  Was the vacation long

enough after London?

RAFAEL NADAL:  The vacation long

enough?  No, one day is enough, you think?

Never is enough.  With this sport you never have

vacations enough.  This part is special for

different things.  This factor is one of the special

things that makes the tour hard and difficult.

Only the best players mentally prepared are

ready to be here long time.

I said before, wasn’t a problem of

holidays, the start of the season.  The only

problem was a little bit of unlucky.  In general, I

had a virus.  When you have a virus, your body

goes down and you have more risk of everything.

That’s probably what happened.  That’s the

simple thing.

Now we have to accept.  I said 100

times.  But the only thing I can say is, accept the

situation and work to try to have another very

good season.

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Dolgopolov, o filho do treinador de Medvedev está nas 4ªs do Australian Open, com técnico australiano

Alexandr Dolgopolov  depois de 19 anos no circuito mundial avançou nesta segunda-feira às quartas-de-final de um Grand Slam pela primeira vez na carreira, ao derrotar o sueco Robin Soderling por 1/6 6/3 6/1 4/6 6/2 e enfrentará Andy Murray em busca de uma vaga na semifinal do Australian Open.

Após vencer Jo-Wilfried Tsonga na Terceira rodada e com a vitória sobre Soderling, Dolgopolov se transformou na grande surpresa em Melbourne.

Aos 22 anos de idade, 19 no circuito, alcançou o melhor resultado da carreira e aparecerá, na semana que vem, na sua melhor posição no ranking mundial. Atualmente é o 46º. Há um ano não estava nem perto dos top 100.

Mas, vida de jogador top não é novidade para Dolgopolov. Desde os três anos de idade ele viaja o circuito mundial. Acompanhava o pai Oleksandr, técnico do ucraniano mais famoso do tênis, Andrei Medvedev, que chegou a ser o quarto colocado no ranking mundial e vice-campeão de Roland Garros, em 1999.

“Eu não lembro muito bem de todos os jogadores, mas muitos brincavam comigo. Sabe como é, quando tem uma criança no circuito, todo mundo brinca com ela,” contou Dolgopolov  em entrevista coletiva concorrida, após derrotar Soderling.

“Os que eu mais me lembro são o Muster e o Rosset. Eles passavam bastante tempo comigo.”

O tenista até tentou chegar longe ao lado do pai Oleksandr, mas o excesso de convivência estragou a relação pai treinador e quando o jovem atingiu 19 anos, resolveu seguir o caminho nas quadras sem o mentor de Medvedev.

Para alegria dos australianos, que agora encontraram alguém para torcer, depois das derrotas de todos os jogadores australianos na terceira rodada ou antes do Grand Slam, Dolgopolov escolheu um técnico da Austrália para guiá-lo. “Mais do que no meu tênis em si, o Jack Reader – treinador – me ajudou na parte mental e física.”

Técnico mais conhecido dos torneios menores, Reader contou aos jornais australianos que o mais difícil foi fazer o tenista reencontrar o prazer de jogar tênis. “O vi jogar a primeira vez há alguns anos, na Europa e dava para ver que el era muito talentoso. Mas, como ele estava no circuito desde muito criança, até ele mesmo esperava muito dele.”

Para treinar com Reader, Dolgopolov está na Austrália desde o fim de novembro e deve ser adotado como um local, neste Australian Open sem heróis  nacionais.

Ah, Dolgopolov está inscrito para disputar o Brasil Open, no mês que vem!

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Federer x Nadal, que bom para o esporte essa final em Londres.

Nadal e Federer posam com o troféu de campeão (Simon Owen)

Já fui da teoria, algum tempo atrás, de que essa rivalidade entre Federer e Nadal era ruim para o esporte. Afinal, que graça tinha os dois se enfrentando a todo o momento. Parecia que só havia eles no tênis.

Mas, hoje pensando além, no que eles representam para o tênis como esporte global, é fantástico tê-los na final do último campeonato do ano.

Não pude acompanhar tão de perto os jogos do Barclays ATP World Finals como eu gostaria. Com a Tennis View bem representada em Londres pelo Neco, compromissos profissionais em outras áreas, claro que vi alguns jogos na TV, li uma coisa aqui ou outra ali, mas também, segui o campeonato como uma fã de tênis qualquer.

E durante esta semana, circulando em outros meios que não o do tênis, eu só ouvia as pessoas falarem: “Nossa que fantástico seria ver o Federer e o Nadal na final,”; “Já está na final? É Federer x Nadal?”; “O Nadal já ganhou do Murray e vai enfrentar o Federer na final.?”; “O que precisa acontecer para a final ser entre Federer e Nadal.?
Ouvi isso de pessoas que não jogam tênis, que não seguem o esporte no dia a dia, mas sabem que nesta semana há um campeonato superimportante e os dois maiores ícones dos últimos anos, ou talvez os dois maiores da história, possam se enfrentar em um jogo que pode ser antológico.

São rivalidades como estas que marcam décadas, formam mitos e jogos como este que as pessoas, que não são as que praticam o tênis diariamente, que não são os fanáticos pelo esporte falam e comentam no dia seguinte, aumentando a popularidade do esporte.

Alguém reparou em como o tênis ganhou cobertura na mídia brasileira nestes dias? Foi maravilhoso abrir os grandes jornais do Pais – O Estado de S.Paulo, O Globo, Folha de São Paulo, entre outros – e ver matérias de ½ página ou mais sobre o tênis.

Neste domingo, inclusive, antes da matéria sobre a final na O2 Arena, em Londres, o Estadão publicou uma entrevista com Andre Agassi, já como chamada para o Tênis Espetacular, o desafio contra Guga que ele fará no dia 11 de dezembro, no Rio de Janeiro.

Há 10 anos, a final da Masters Cup era em Lisboa, entre Guga e Agassi. Só para lembrar.

Post sobre esse momento histórico do tênis brasileiro e mundial vem em breve.

Para quem quiser relembrar todos os jogos entre Federer e Nadal, a ATP fez um resumo de todos eles neste link

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Andre Agassi needs no special effects – video

O momento é do mundo digital e a HEAD acaba de lançar mais um de seus vídeos, esperando alcançar o mesmo sucesso que fizeram os vídeos de Federer, de Nadal e do Federer e o que a própria Head fez no primeiro semestre com Andy Murray.

A estrela deste vídeo, utilizado para promover a linha de raquete Youtek Star Series, é Andre Agassi. As imagens foram gravadas em Las Vegas, cidade onde o ídolo, que virá ao Brasil enfrentar Gustavo Kuerten, em dezembro, reside.

O título do do vídeo é Proof: Agassi needs no Special Effects

Andre Agassi impressively proves that he’s still on top of his game.  No tricks, no special effects, just one of the best tennis players ever at his best.

Confira onde Agassi acerta as bolas! – [bubblecast id=294432 thumbnail=475×375 player=475×375]

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