19 March 2014, 06:06 PM IST
Roger Federer once again gave his fans a lesson: don't expect 'results' from him. His defeat in the Indian Wells final against Novak Djokovic seems to suggest (perhaps wrongly) that beauty is his priority, results are secondary!
The Swiss had no business to lose the title match. He was a far superior player, not just on paper, but also on court against the Serb. But he suddenly failed to hold serve in the second set and just began to lose critical points.
Djokovic did not do anything to suggest that he was clearly the better player on the day. But sadly, the scoreline indicates just that.
My heartburn could be a result of losing sleep without witnessing the result I wanted (after all, the match started at 2.30 am IST and ended around 5 am). But then, that could be a wrong line of thinking. For, Federer played one RIDICULOUS volley (see it here at 1:46.09. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4DkMitrvc). Don't mind him losing and me losing my sleep again if he plays one such stroke of divine grace and simplicity again!
As one of my friends believes: you must watch Federer 'only' for the uplifting experience; if he wins, it's a bonus
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The victory of China's Wang Yihan in the Basel event is good news for World badminton. For, she is simply the best woman shuttler on earth (because Sandra Bullock in Gravity shuttles in space!)
Of course, Federer is way above Yihan in stature. But there is something similar between the two: they are pleasing to the eye; and their fans can't pinpoint how they manage to lose despite possessing such a commanding game!
Yihan had lost to Lu Xuerui in the final of London 2012 and to P V Sindhu in the pre-quarters of World Championships last year.
Yihan has got Saina Nehwal's number and she beats her on raw skill - court craft, use of the wrists, touch, and ability to raise her game. But somehow, she has failed to dominate World badminton despite having a basic game in place.
But then, except for Lin Dan, the story of Chinese badminton is of a country dominating rather than individual players doing so. It's downright sad.
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The World Candidates chess tournament in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, is living up to its billing. In addition to V Anand taking an early lead, there have been some fascinating, no-holds-barred fights on the board. The fifth-round game between Kramnik and Aronian ended with just kings on the board. Ditto the second round game between Topalov and Anand.
Even scholars sometimes come up with gory draws. And it can be only good for the game.
There have been a couple of moves with great depth and simplicity. Anand played a pawn push which invited resignation from Mamedyarov because it ended the remote possibility of the Indian getting (backrank) mated due to aggressive oversight.
And top seed Aronian beat Svidler with the 'h' pawn thrust in the fourth round. But before playing that move, he blocked Svidler's pawn with his bishop. It could have won a coronation for suffocation!
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Now, over to some mindblowing recent pictures:
First, a frame from a promotional event in Melbourne ahead of the Australian GP, the F1's season opener (pic credit Reuters); and then a setting during a T20 international at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, between West Indies and England (pic credit Reuters).
Take your pic. And don't hesitate to share your reasons for the same by sending in comments.
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'Script'ic comments:
Politicians to farmers affected by nature: "Blame the media for hailstorm. They started writing about Gaylestorm in the IPL build-up. After Tendulkar's retirement, only the raingods could have obliged."
And finally, a news channel's possible defence in Chennai High Court after Dhoni sued them demanding Rs 100 crores (and 100 tonnes of cement if you wish to add) in defamation. "We accept we did wrong. We don't have any evidence against any cricketer. We did it "enthusiastically". Hence the two-member bench should give us clean chit. Next time seedhe balle se khelenge!
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