Fashionista vs Gladiator Final Round – Who?

Only joking!

Surprisingly, the winner of the fourth, and final, Gland Slam tournament of 2009 (the U.S. Open) was not Federer or Nadal, but the Argentinean player Juan Martín del Potro, who dethroned Mr Fed. to claim his first major title, in his first Grand Slam final. Congrats!

The U.S. Open, however, marks the end of the “Fashionista vs Gladiator” segment for this year, with Federer just edging out Nadal with 2 Slams to the Spaniard’s 1.

It was a good year for the fashion-conscious one, who, after claiming the elusive Roland Garros title, went on to claim back his Wimbledon trophy, and welcome twin girls into his slick world. However, the year wasn’t so rapturous for my little gladiator, who, after a shock defeat at Roland Garros, went into temporary retirement, citing a knee injury. But he was back in action at The Open, and made it into the semi-finals, so there’s hope for a more plausible “Fashionaista vs Gladiator” in 2010.

For now i’ll say that it’s been fun, we’ve watched some great tennis and witnessed a record-breaking moment.

Stay safe. Stay cool. And don’t forget to check back with me next year for more tennis tantrums (yes, I’m talking about Miss Williams!).

See you in January!

Fashionista vs Gladiator Round 3 – Federer

Congratulations Federer, you’ve done in. You’ve beaten Sampras’s record and have acquired the record-breaking 15th Gland Slam title. My condolenses do however go to Andy Roddick, who had my support. It was a tough match, but as the tired and clichéd saying goes, someone had to lose, and fashion-conscious-Fed wasn’t going down twice in a final at his beloved Wimbledon.

The Williams war was won yesterday by Serena, and all eyes were firmly fixed on centre court this afternoon, and on the man Nike has labeled ”RF”. The mood was set. The retractable roof ready. Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg – all the men whose names have been tossed around the table in the heated discussion to decide who is, once and for all, the greatest player of all time – were all there, along with Federer’s seemingly close friend Gavin Rossdale, to witness the occasion. And the occasion didn’t disappoint – well, Federer at least.

After 4 hours and 17 minutes (including a 5th, 95 minute, 30 game set), Fed was crowned champion encore une fois. And what better way to celebrate than to don a ”here’s one Nike prepared earlier – just in case” sweater with “15″ goldy stitched on the back. Yes Roger, we noticed! Very fitting (Andy looks pleased!).

But all jokes aside, it’s a job well done and the Fashionista is a master at what he does, although I don’t believe he’s the greatest man to have ever graced the tennis courts – yet.

Moving swifty, but only briefly, on to women’s tennis. As usual, the Williams sisters dominated the fortnight and, as usual, cleaned up at the event, with Serena taking the ladies’ singles titles away from her sister, before joining Venus to destroy two Australian girls, whose names I can’t mention (because I don’t know them), in the doubles final.

The Williams sisters aren’t really given enough credit for what they do, and so I’d like to give them a shout out – only a small one mind you! There have been many discussions over the past few years about the state of the ladies’ game, and how it’s not as engaging as men’s tennis. But when you think about it (leave a comment if i’m wrong), if not for the top 3 male players (Federer, Nadal and British Murray), who would tune in to watch the male game? People are quick to jump on the bandwagon and attack women’s tennis, but the Williams sisters are the only two holding it up right now – to the point where they can go off and pursue comical fashion ventures and pop back to the court whenever they feel like it! I’m sure if someone were to carry out a survey to find out how many female players the common man knew, Venus and Serena’s names would probably be the only two with a tick beside them. And although Tom, Dick and Harriet may know a few more male players (aside from the aforementioned three), how many are we actually really interested in? One more than the Williams sisters makes [the top] 3!

p.s. what has happened to the Gladiator (Nadal)? To say Fashionista vs Gladiator hasn’t been the contest I anticipated would be an understatement!

Fashionista vs Gladiator Round 2 – Federer

(image courtesy of Google)

Congratulations Federer! although I am a little upset by his win. After one hundred years of trying, and after the early departure of Nadal, the slick Swiss took centre stage yesterday at Roland Garros and finally won the one slam that had eluded him for so many years – The French Open. This victory now takes Federer’s grand slam total to 14 – equaling  Pete Sampras’s record – and makes him one of only a few men to have won all four grand slams.

I’m a Fed fan, but I didn’t want it to happen; he has nothing left to fight for now, and it shows! I was also enjoying seeing his weepier side – it’s so unusual for the swiss maestro! But what’s done is done, and I can’t say he didn’t deserve it.

Next up Wimbledon – Fed’s favourite. Let the Catwalk commence!

À toute à l’heure mes amis.

Fashionista vs Gladiator Round 1 – Nadal

(image courtesy of BBC News)

Congratulations Rafa!

But I really feel for Federer right now. I never thought i’d see the former number one reduced to tears.

Fashionista vs Gladiator

 

And so it begins again – as if it wasn’t to be expected. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet on Sunday, for a record seventh time in a Grand Slam final, when the two go head-to-head in Melbourne for the Australian Open Title.

This meeting will be the 19^th for the two athletes,with Nadal leading 12-6 overall and 4-2 in major finals.However, it will be the first time they have played one another in Melbourne and on hard courts in a Grand Slam.

It’s hard to predict an outcome for this match, as every encounter between the pair seems to be taken to epic proportions, with sublime tennis from both players – the most notable being the 2008 Wimbledon final which Nadal won in five sets, denying Federer a sixth consecutive title and ending his love affair with the All England Club. Le pauvre – I wonder if we’ll be seeing tailored cardigans this year?!

Subsequently, that final went on to become the longest championship match in the history of Wimbledon and a tipping point, in what is fast becoming one of the greatest sporting rivalries of all time.

And so to Sunday, and the Rod Laver Arena…. Federer will be coming into this – well, looking very stylish for a start – but more importantly, looking to equal Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal, on the other hand, will no doubt be a little fatigued (after his marathon semi-final on Friday) and as usual, taped up to the rafters, as he focuses on claiming his first Grand Slam title on hard courts, and his first in Melbourne.

The statistics:

World number two versus world number one,

Thirteen Grand Slam titles as opposed to five,

Swiss supremacy against the Spanish underdog,

Grace and precision versus brute force and acrobatics,

The boy next door against a lovable rogue,

Blazers and cardigans as opposed to sleeveless shirts and Capris,

Calm and collected versus persistent and passionate,

Fashionista versus Gladiator.

I’m torn….

I love fashionistas, but tell me, who can resist a gladiator?!