For The Love Of The Game

Roger Federer may be a god; but he sho’ ain’t perfect.

My boy Roger lost again to Guillermo Canas, the meth-using Argentine who just came back from a 15 month suspension from the ATP. I remembered Canas as the clean-cut player who captured the Chennai Open some years ago wrenching the title from Paradorn Schrichapan. When I saw his interview the other night after his second victory over Roger, he looked downright dirty with messy ponytail and unkempt beard. Although I have no doubts whatsoever that Andy Roddick would gladly grow his hair and stop shaving if only he can duplicate what Canas has done twice in a row now.

In typical Latin American accent, his l’s and r’s rolling along his tongue, he said he’s very happy and is feeling very confident, yadda yadda, blah blah.

Well congratulations bandido, you just stole my thunder.

These days I watch tennis because of Roger Federer, just like some lunatics who watch boxing because of Manny Pacquiao.

When Roger is in the zone, his tennis becomes so sublime that he can’t seem to do anything wrong. Every match he plays, everyone including some of his opponents think that the outcome is already a foregone conclusion. When he’s on the court, there’s no doubt whatsoever in their mind as to who would win. People come in droves to not to see a match but to see how Roger would administer the expected beatdown.

So when Roger lost to Canas for the second time in less than a month, it felt like he let me down. My belief in his invincibility was dented a little bit– after all Canas is no Rafael Nadal, and the tournament isn’t on a clay court. So why? How come? What gives?

Suddenly the Sony Ericsson Open lost its appeal.

But still I have to believe that perfection is attainable; and Roger is the closest thing to perfection in the tennis world right now. Close but not quite there yet.

Take a long rest Roger, I hope you do better at the French.

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The only thing I’m thankful for these days is that Daniella Hantuchova extended her winning ways; which means I get to see her gazelle-like figure lithely chasing down balls for at least another night at the Qatar Total Open. She hasn’t changed much physically since she broke into the tennis world a couple of years ago by winning the Pacific Life Open, the same title she won last week. This time however, she’s sporting a much longer hair which could only enhance her yumminess factor.

I better stop drooling and get back to work.