sania mania

yesterday i watched the whole match of Sania for first time as she stormed her way in kind of arrogant way to 4th round and to match Maria Sharapova. but it might be due to few minutes i spent outside as i just could not watch her struggle at 5-6 in first set and making a customary error, putting a simple volley in to the net and score on her serve was 0-15 and then she served right in the net and i simply could not watch her making a double. and then a phone call from friend told me that she won the set 7-6. This was amazing.
Now coming to her game, one unique observation which is clearly seen is that she lost just two points in whole match, where she hit more than 2 forehands. she was simply in arrogantly good form as she played best tennis in US Open so far, taking her game far above the level she played in first two rounds. She would definitely pose a few problems for the world number One in next match, but she could be lethal if she improves on her service game and control herself from over hitting and thereby lessening the count of 40+ unforced errors.

But her forehand complimented her two+ forehand theory very well and it would be definitely interesting to watch her play the World Number Uno. Sania vs Maria, truly a different Mania.

The Emperor

From the far side closer to VIP arena came the first serve,right in the corner of service court box and flies away more and a little more to the right, getting more away from the challenger,who is, by now a mute witness to the tunes played by the master, the champion. 15-0.
Just then second serve, again challenger i unable to use his stroke. 30-0. The champion, now just two points away from the third consecutive title. This was an ace on second serve, moving away from Roddick - the challenger, now a silent look says it all.
Next serve return from Roddick hits close to baseline and the champion makes a casual - arrogant backhand shot which dipped on the tape and falls back in his own court. So casual, the crowd sighs as the ball falls back after hitting the court. 30-15.
"Can i do something here". "No" says the champion as next masterful serve is returned and put away with a volley to make it to the championship point. 40-15, in less than 2 hours.
So then, how would the end be?
Serve right on the line and Roddick takes a step left, backhand in action, reaches the ball, totally bent on his left and only barely able to reach.. touch it as the yellow green ball glistened in rarely out sun, takes one dip then another one before it hits the net and the master, after gracefully mesmerizing the whole arena with his impeccable art, drops to his knees, palms holded together and racquet in between as hands go on to the head up in ecstasy, unable to control emotions, as he did on last two occasions.
Falls on his knees, feet also folded, goes on his back,still holding the racquet, getting back on his knees, and then looking straight into eyes of Tony Roche, artist of old times, and girl friend Barbaranek, gets up, unable to control the tears. Gets up finally and walks towards Roddick as they get in a friendly embrace, a total sportsmanship, Roddick saluting the master.
Score - 6-2, 7-6, 6-4, looks totally one sided, but it was more a difference of artistery, level above all themaster is the king. King with tears and as Roddick said - "he has got better in last two years". The throne looks permanent as The Champion - Roger Federer, is in control, putting all the rhymes in beautiful tones, better than anyon else has done it before.