Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal – The Greatest Rivalry?

When we think about tennis, even if you are a complete newbie, you definitely knows something about two of the most charismatic tennis icons Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. They continue an old tennis tradition of intense rivalries that streches over the years, Federer being the favorite on hard surfaces and Nadal on clay.

Well served aces, powerful backhands, precise movement and a Swiss watch tempo. This could be a short description of the tennis machine called Roger Federer also known as Fed Express or Maestro. He held the number one position for a record 237 consecutive weeks wining an amazing 16 Grand Slam titles and played in 23 finals, also holding the record of reaching ten consecutive Grand Slam finals. In 2008 he won the Olympic Gold Medal in doubles after some amazing games. After his amazing results in tennis he was voted as the Sportsman of the year on four consecutive years from 2005 to 2008. He is curently ranked as World No. 4.

Federer’s rival, Rafael Nadal, is currently ranked as No.2 after relinquishing his No 1 position in 2011 to Novak Djokovic. As his fans like to call him “The King of Clay” many experts feel that he could be the greatest clay court player of all time. He has won 10 Grand Slams so far, an Olimpic Gold Medal and 3 Davis Cup title with Spanish team. He played against Federer in 19 tournament finals and won 13 of them.

As many consider their rivalry to be the greatest in tennis history, it is a privilage for the viewer to see their clashes in which grandeour and gods are divided by a net and their victories are decided by a rubbery green ball.

Wozniacki and Federer in Domination

Caroline Wozniacki lost her serve in the first game, but then she came back and rolled off 12 of the next 13 in a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Arantxa Rus at the U.S. open on Thursday.

In the quest of her first Grand Slam Title, Caroline Wozniacki lost six games in total in the first two matches held at Flushing Meadows.

She will be facing against the American Vania King in the next match. King, who beat Jarmila Gajdosova – 29^th seeded, on Thursday.

In the late match, top seeded Novak Djokovic took the win in the first 14 games in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 victory against Carlos Berlocq of Argentina.

Novak has lost three games in total in the first two matches held at Flushing Meadows. His first challenger retired down 6-0, 5-1.

No. 3 Roger Federer also had an easy time. He was asked in an interview after his U.S. Open victory against Dudi Sela of Israel on Thursday to give other players some quick pointers and advice on how to dial in their serve.

He said, “It all starts with a good ball toss. Sometime, people think it’s just the swing, but I think the ball toss creates your motion after that. You should keep your elbow high on the serve, then the better you get, the more you can use rotation and legs.”

Venus Williams – Unexpected Goodbye

Venus Williams, the two-time tennis champion, was touched with a bit of sorrow when she said goodbye to the U.S. Open for 2011- this is not because of the terms and certainly not what her fans would expect.

The headliner of the game for almost 15 years announced its withdrawal last Wednesday after revealing that she has been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. It’s a disease that has been draining her energy all summer and made it too much for her to go on.

“I enjoyed playing my first match here, and wish I could continue but right now I am unable to,” she said in a statement. “I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.”

She waved at everyone before leaving on a courtesy car. She did not answer any questions too thrown by the reporters at her.

The illness that Venus have is not considered as threatening its career – dry mouth and eyes are the common symptoms, it also associated with fatigue and sore joints.

She can still make it back at some point, under what conditions, but it still remains a big question.

Rafael Nadal Tried Hard in Match against Golubev

The first competition as defending U.S. Open champion was only just a tour de force of Rafael Nadal.

He would go down after in a set, after that return.  Go down after, come back.

His serve was busted six times.  His shots did not have their usual deepness.  He wanted to save seven set points throughout the second set.

Locked in a fight, for closely three hours, the second-seeded Nadal finally obtained past 98^th-ranked Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-3, 7-6(1), 7-5 on Tuesday night to arrive the second round.

Nadal conded, “I was a little bit lucky to win today in straight sets.”

Serena Williams, three-time U.S. Open champion followed Nadal into Arthur Ashe Stadium for her first singles competition in the tournament since her 2009 diatribe at a line judge.  She never was challenged by 54^th ranked Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia, requiring below an hour to win 6-1, 6-1.

It as well did not get long to observe that the right should of Novak Djokovic, the top-seed is feeling good.

He started his first-round competiton with a 121- mph service champion.  He closed that game with a 120 mph ace four points afterward.

Playing his first competition since August 21, when he give up for the reason of a sore, tired shoulder, Djokovic achieved a 6-0, 5-1 lead prior to 197^th ranked Conor Niland of Ireland retired after 44 minutes with food poisoning.

Day 2 of the tournament as well included wins of Caroline Wozniacki and previous French Open champions Francesca Schiavone and Ana Ivanovic and a loss by present French Open Champ Li Na.

Wozniacki Wins Four in a Row

A little rain cannot prevent Caroline Wozniacki, peak-ranked from winning her fourth successive New Haven title, as she defeated the Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska, 6-4, 6-1, on Saturday in Connecticut.

Wozniacki of Denmark, the peak seed at United States Open of next week, improved to 17-0 at the tournament.  It was her sixth title this season.

Wozniacki said, “I just have a good momentum every time I play here.  You always play better when you like to be around a tournament.”

Cetkovska ranked 40^th, had won seven successive competitions from the beginning of meeting the criteria.  The competition, which was transferred to 1 p.m. Eastern from 5 p.m. to defend Hurricane Irene, was played outdoors at the Connecticut Tennis Center.  John Isner, ISNER TAKES WINSTON-SALEM defeated the qualifier Julien Benneteau with 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina.

Isner, a native of close by Greensboro, conquered  34 unforced mistakes with 19 aces, the quickest was listed at 139 miles an hour and won his second tournament of the year.  He as well won at NewPort, R.I.

Nadal Says Novak Djokovic Is Worthy of World No. 1 Rank

World No.2 Rafael Nadal said man in form Noval Djokovic is worthy as a No. 1 rank in the men’s singles ATP Rankings, where he played outstanding season in his profession.

Novak Djokovic, 24 years old, has won two Grand Slam crowns at Australian Open and Wimbledon including six ATP World Tour titles.  Djokovic is the one of the hot favorites to confirm the title at US Open this year at Flushing Meadows, according to Nadal.  The latter has ended a profession Grand Slam by defeating Djokovic in the 2010 US Open finals in four sets.  The only player to win three successive major championships in a season with French Open, Wimbledon and US Open is no other than Nadal.

The 2011 French Open winner said that he was amazed by the ability of Djokovic to keep constantly strong of mind and he wants to congratulate him. Djokovic had 57-2 win loss record in the season, where Nadal shocked 5-0 win loss head-to-head record against Djokovic in this year.  Djokovic rose to No. 1 position, after arriving the 2011 Wimbledon final at All England Club.  Nadal says he is not yet thinking about some new plans versus Djokovic, where he is busy with his practice sessions for US Open title.

Nadal was disappointed at the Cincinnati Masters, after losing the quarter finals to Mardy Fish in straight sets. However, he has been working at the Center Court, prior to the US Open from next Monday, where he will play his opening round versus Andrey Golubey of Kazakhstan.

Davydenko Fights against Stakhovsky in Winston Salem Open

Nikolay Davydenko, the World No. 3, will fight against Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in the second round of the 2011 Winston Salem Open tournament on Wednesday at 16:05 GMT.

Nikolay Davydenko, a Russian star has defeated Michael Russell of United States in the opening round with a 6-2 and 6-2 in the 2011 Winston Salem Open tournament on Tuesday at Winston Salem.

Davydenko has played good in the first round, where he is looking better, prior to the US Open affair this month in New York.   Davydenko who is 30 years old will get on Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round of the event on Wednesday, which it is the portion of the ATP World Tour 250 Series of the 2011 ATP World Tour.

Sergiy Stakhovsky, the World No. 41 ranked, has conquered Andrey Golubey in though three sets with a 6-1, 2-6 and 6-2 score line on Tuesday.  Stakhovsky, the Ukraine star has been every time playing good in this season, where he has lost in the first round of Nikolay Davydenko, the Cincinnati Masters Russian in straight sets.  He must play firm to win the competition and move to next round of the event.

Both the players are facing for the third occasion, where Davydenko is ahead with a 2-0 win-loss confronting each other record versus Stakhoysky in career.  The duo has previous meet at 2011 Cincinnati Masters, where Davydenko beaten Stakhovsky in directly sets with a 6-2 and 7-6 (5).  The chances helps Davydenko could win the competition and go on to the third round of the 2011 Winston Salem Open tournament on Wednesday.