Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
Can Federer complete a calendar slam?
Received wisdom heading into the Australian Open was that the combined effects of fatherhood and a record-breaking number of grand slams would reduce Roger Federer’s hunger for success to the point where mere mortals on the tour need fear him no longer.
Instead, the message remains: Beware of the GOAT.
The possibility no one seems to have considered is that the Wimbledon title that saw him overtake Pete Sampras as the most successful player in grand slams, coupled with the certain knowledge he now possesses that there are far more important things in life than tennis, might take every ounce of pressure off his shoulders and make him a more formidable opponent still.
Have you ever seen Federer looking more relaxed and confident in the midst of a tournament than in the breezy few minutes he spent talking to Jim Courier after his semi-final stroll past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?
The Swiss delighted the crowd with a series of off-the-cuff remarks about his own game and the final to come against Andy Murray. Give the man a rim-shot or two from the backing band and NBC would have its Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien problem all solved.
Federer beats Murray in Australian Open final — how it happened
Roger Federer’s stunning victory over Andy Murray … as it happened.
Has Nadal’s career already peaked?
Rafael Nadal has electrified men’s tennis since bursting on to the scene in 2005 but there are worrying signs that the Spaniard’s career may already have peaked.
With six grand slam titles to his name already Nadal has already staked his claim as one of the greats of the game but the aura he used to bring to the court has vanished.
U.S. Open shocker as Del Potro beats Federer to win title
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro has beaten Roger Federer to win in the U.S. Open and end the Swiss master’s five-year domination of the title.
Does this mark the arrival of an exciting new 20-year-old talent or is it merely another reminder that Federer is no longer the force he once was? Or should we just enjoy another superb men’s grand slam final?
A tale of two draws at Flushing Meadows
It has been a tale of two draws at the U.S. Open, with the men’s seeds advancing full steam ahead and the women’s field in disarray.
Eight of the top 16 women’s seeds have been given the boot at Flushing Meadows, while all 16 men have strolled forward — the first time men’s seeds have marched in lock step into the third round of a grand slam.
Expect Federer v Murray to decide US Open again
The final grand slam tournament of the year, which begins on Monday at Flushing Meadows, will welcome the world’s two highest ranked players in intimidating form.
Two Masters tournaments, the level below a grand slam, have been played this month with Murray triumphing in Montreal and Federer in Cincinnati.
Federer is still the daddy
All eyes will be on new dad Roger Federer at the U.S. Open next week to see if he really can combine nappy changing duties with a successful run to another grand slam title.
The five-times Flushing Meadows champion, whose wife Mirka gave birth to twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose last month, will be aiming to become the first parent to win a tennis major since 2003.
Is it fair to compare greats from different sports?
I just came across an interesting blog on the bleacher report comparing the greatness of Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.
Here in Italy, the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper has been running a series called “Impossible duels” where the likes of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt have gone up against each other in a bizarre statistical battle.
Why is your nose so red? The wacky world of Wimbledon
With hundreds of members of the international press descending on the All England Club every year to cover Wimbledon, players inevitably face a range of questions in their post-match news conferences as reporters seek to find a new or quirky angle for a story.
Most of the more bizarre questions never make it in to their final reports, but now the dust has settled on Roger Federer’s record-breaking win, here is a collection of the strangest.
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Resident Left Field Expert
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