King Rafa
2008 has already been undisputably the finest year of young Rafael Nadal's career. After taking care of business once again at the French Open, he turned right around and dethroned the seemingly invincible Roger Federer at Wimbledon - winning his first major off of the clay surface. He also finally took Roger's coveted #1 ranking on the tour. And as an added bonus, he won himself a gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing. Could he possibly complete this incredible year with a win at the U.S. Open as well?
(2/1) CHANGING OF THE GUARD?
written by TIM JOYCE - February 1, 2008, 4:43 p.m.
In 1968 the late Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross published her seminal work On Death and Dying, in which she proposed the now infamous five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Fellow Swiss citizen and current tennis immortal, or shall I say suddenly mortal, Roger Federer is likely experiencing one of those stages right now - stage three, bargaining - as his stranglehold atop the rankings may be slipping away (with may being the operative word) sooner than anticipated.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN (1/25) DJOKOVIC'S TRIUMPH - NOT AN UPSET...
written by Tim Joyce - January 25, 2008, 8:22 a.m.
Most observers look upon Novak Djokovic's three set dismissal of Roger Federer in the Australian Open semifinals as a sizable upset, with the Fed not appearing in a Grand Slam final for the first time in three years. But quite simply it isn't.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN (1/24) TSONGA'S ARRIVAL
written by Tim Joyce - January 24, 2008, 6:23 a.m.
When Pete Sampras, ranked 12th at the time with few expectations, won his first Grand Slam title at the 1990 US Open, he defeated Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi with an awesome showing not-before-seen display of all-court tennis. Early this morning Gotham time, it has been replicated by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France as he dismantled and destroyed #2 seed Rafael Nadal in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The soon-to-be 23 year old Tsonga, currently ranked 38th, put on a dizzying display of power serving, strong baseline play and uncanny brilliance at the net to render the always- energetic Spaniard helpless.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN (1/11) AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW - MEN
written by Tim Joyce - January 11, 2008, 6:43 a.m.
If he is to claim an incredible 13th Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open which begins on Monday (late Sunday night Gotham time), Roger Federer will have to navigate through a perilous draw just to reach the final Sunday. Of course, if Federer does manage to reach the final, it will be his 11th consecutive appearance in a Grand Slam final, surely a record that may never be matched.
(12/4) FEDERER IGNORED AGAIN FOR SI SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
written by Tim Joyce - December 4, 2007, 7:43 a.m.
When Martin Scorcese finally won a Best Director Oscar for his last film, The Departed, many devotees of his work were thrilled that the talented filmmaker had finally been rewarded after being snubbed so often in previous years. It was somewhat ironic however as most followers of Scorcese's films would name at least three other efforts by the director that were far more deserving of the award.
(11/24) FEDERER-SAMPRAS, ROUND 3 MACAO - SAMPRAS WINS
written by Tim Joyce - November 24, 2007, 3:43 a.m.
In their third and final Asian exhibition encounter, in the gambling mecca of Macao - the "other Hong Kong" - Pete Sampras defeated Roger Federer in straight sets today and with it may have started a new round of passionate arguments among tennis fans and historians. !
(11/22) FEDERER-SAMPRAS, ROUND 2 - Malaysia
written by Tim Joyce - November 22, 2007, 9:23 a.m.
"Nice to know that you're happy and rich." Malasyian post-match announcer to Pete Sampras after today's match
A visibly more relaxed Pete Sampras commenced the second of three Asian exhibition matches against Roger Federer with a 135 (217km) ace.