ATP Masters Paris: What In High Haddes...?

(Flickr photo- iPh4n70M, 13 Nov 2009)

I love tennis. Sometimes for the technical brilliance on display, the feats of dogged determination, a single handed backhand pinging the ball down the line before the opponent even begins to move, and you're sat at home going, Ohhhh!

Other times it's because, occasionally, events do not follow the predicted script. AT ALL. Julien Bennetau, a 27-year old French man is the sort of player who simply perspires hard work. I haven't yet seen him on court without his blonde curls matted to his scalp, his shirts translucent with sweat- forget Dri FIT- and trails of rubber soles etched in his wake. He really tries out there. But against a rested Roger Federer, in the penultimate tournament of maybe his most emotionally satisfying year yet, the end we got was not at all expected: Bennetau won in 3 sets!

I casually checked into the match on the off chance some tennis might still be in play. Instead I caught the tail end of a thrilling third set, with Bennetau running down and hurling himself like a lemming with no fears after increasingly exasperated Federer shots.

A quick scan at the stats showed Federer's first serve percentage was low in the 50's, a slew of unforced errors and only 1 in 7 breakpoints converted. All of which points to Federer's unease on the Paris indoor courts (historically speaking, he's not been a hit) and some gutsy play on Bennetau's part, to the absolute delight of the Paris crowds. Yes, you read right- Paris crowd. Delighted. Not a loftily held nose in sight.

So on day 3, the Masters series Paris sees the loss of the world no.1, but Rafael Nadal (2) remains on track after narrowly escaping 5 match points against Nicolas Almalgro, Del Potro (5) remains with a win over Marat Safin (aurevoir Marat, who's retiring after Paris) and Andy Murray (3) takes on James Blake now.

US Open: It Must Be Madness

That entry is for insane scheduling.

Every sports section of NY-LON news outlets acknowledge the same thing- US Open scheduling sucks. Notably, The Times online suggests the US Open 'get [their] act together', while Jim Courier even posted a tweet referring followers to the NY Times explanation of this notoriously tricky process of any sports tournament. ESPN have been conveniently quiet, but then, given the not-so-content reviews of their tennis coverage at times, I'm not surprised they favour commenting from the sidelines (Times Online has nada to lose; they've got viewers and renewal rights to think of).

We all know the demands of TV and her alluring kerching play a major factor in scheduling matches, but surely we have to draw the line when such scheduling puts a possible strain on the players who we all tune in/pay to see in the first place? Is it fair that some players are expected to play a semi and final back to back, or indeed a quarter, semi and a final? The USTA would seem to think so. Of course sportsmen have to deal with the circumstances and conditions they find themselves in (who's going to care or remember, if they go on to win the tournament?).

I just think making the battlefield a level one from the outset should be the priority- if a win is earned by testing mental, physical, emotional and technical ability, then the control over the conditions set by the organisers ought to be equal. For everyone.

That way, when my boy Rafa Nadal gets the better of Roger Federer, I can happily gloat; or if Rogie finesses past Rafa, I take it on the chin while simultaneously avoiding the gloating calls from my Fed Friends in our ongoing rivalry (check the oh-so-true 'You're Either For Federer or Nadal- Not Both' article)

*Footnote- as it happens, Rafa was solidly beaten by an inspired Juan Martin Del Potro (aka Gentle Giant) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. No reminiscent update of the rivalry this year. After Rogers defeat of Djokovic and that utterly SICK penultimate between the legs shot, have to say El Fed is looking very sharp. We'll see who takes it! (updated Monday, 14/9/09 at 03:24 while watching the Womens Final. Wozniacki should have won the 1st set already. Will she be made to rue those lost chances??)