LIFE HAS TO MOVE ON!

Tears roll down my "soft" cheeks- may be because they have become fond of its softness. It seems these tears are gonna leave no stone un-turned to traverse the path again. But every time their journey begins, a serrated arrow pierces through my heart's valves. It hurts, it really does. And the worst part is that the pain and the words describing the pain are not inter-convertible! I mean it, I am still in search of a relationship between the parameters. For the first time, life seems empty. Failure can sometimes, taste so bitter- I had never imagined! It's indeed difficult to digest the fact that I have lost it. I could not be better than these "sub-standard" people. Now the attention shifts to the word "sub-standard." At this point of time, I may not be deserving enough to use this adjective for the apparent winners, but the fact is a fact. No force in this universe can ever force me to accept that these people are better than me. Call it my arrogance or my "loser" attitude- I simply do not give a damn about it! I simply do not. Just a single word from my mouth- " Why?"

I have lost the strength to bounce back, lost the immense faith on the justice that seemed to prevail till this day. I may not be destined to be a part of that team- and I never wished to- but the way that happened proved too rude. What shall I say? It was not that luck deserted me cause I always believe luck favors the deserving ones. The reason was maybe I didn't prove to be strong enough that day to grab my luck. And yeah, I had always been taught- "energy is conserved in the universe"- then where did all my effort go? Heat dissipated to the surroundings? The transformation could not have been worse- I swear!

Now, I cannot turn back the time, the moments. And I am in no mood to face it again. I don't even intend to witness the time move backward. I am running short of ideas how to turn over a new leaf. Life gifted me my first real defeat- a defeat that has become a turning point of my life. The ambiguity is that it's still not clear which path am I heading toward. A new and a determined beginning towards glory or a hill spiraling downwards towards gloom? The answer lies with me, no doubt. But am I equipped well enough to face the stark reality and move ahead? At this point of time, a BIG NO.

Failure is not a stepping stone for success; instead success breeds success. At the same time, success can never taste sweet if you lack the experience of being beaten! But these are just the two sides of a coin. The transition is a hell. But, I want to face it like a winner. Whatever destiny has in store for me, I have no other way except than to accept it. But I am in no mood either to let it slip. I need not prove others what I have got in me. I know, every one is uniquely talented and no one other than me can have 0.1% of the talent which I have been blessed with. The only thing that remains to be seen is when is the talent gonna be rewarded in a true sense. The uphill struggle begins and I will make sure, I enjoy each moment of that struggle and finally make it happen!

39-0 and Counting !

When the pariah state of Serbia captured its first Davis Cup title at Belgrade last year against a formidable foe France, few Serbians would have opined in favor of their pride, Novak Djokovic to rip through the solo tour in 2011 beating the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It was not sheer bravado. The victory instilled in him the self confidence that transfigured the Serb irrevocably as a tennis player. 39-0 including seven titles at the Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Belgrade, Madrid and now Rome. This dream run of being unbeaten in the season has aided the Serb in holding the destiny of being the numero uno in his own hands after the upcoming Roland Garros dismantling the duopoly of Roger and Rafa for the fist time in seven years.

THE IMPERIAL "DJOKER" RUN:

1. MELBOURNE- THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION

Jan 27, 2011- Beats Roger Federer in straight sets 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the semi-final

Jan 29, 2011-Dismantles Murray in the final 6-4,6-2,6-3 to lift his second Australian Open crown.

2. DUBAI OPEN- TITLE NO.2

Feb 27, 2011- Claims Dubai Open by humbling Roger Federer 6-3,6-3.

3. INDIAN WELLS-TITLE NO.3

March 19, 2011- Usurps the No. 2 ranking from the Swiss maestro after overcoming him in a thriller in the semi final 6-3,3-6,6-2

March 20,2011- Beats Nadal in a final for the first time in six attempts 4-6,6-3,6-2 to lay his hands on BNP Paribas Open trophy.

4. MIAMI- TITLE NO.4

April 4, 2011- Gets the better of the World No.1 Spaniard for the second time in a final 4-6,6-3,7-6 to take home his 4the title of the season.

5. BELGRADE- TITLE NO.5

May1, 2011- Registers a comprehensive 7-6, 6-2 win over Feliciano Lopez to open his clay court season in a perfect style.

6. MADRID- TITLE NO.6

Dethrones Rafa-the king of clay 7-5, 6-4 in his own backyard to score his first victory over the Spaniard on clay.

7.ROME- TITLE NO. 7

May 14, 2011- Murray comes close to end the Serb's terrific run, but unable to close out the match to eventually gift the Serb one more win.

May 15,2011- One more title-Rome Masters goes to the Serb after he humbles the Majorcan 6-4,6-4 once again on clay.

RECIPES FOR THE DREAM RUN

Had Serbia lost to France in the last year's Davis Cup, the tennis world might not have been fortunate enough to witness such a historic run this year. The streak might never have happened and who knows, it just might have been another Rafa or Roger(though unlikely) year. Djokovic while still remaining unbeaten, is no more the "Disease-afflicted" tennis player who had the dubious distinction of retiring midway, no more the "Djoker-the extroverted character" well known for his impersonations of other players but the soon-to-be-crowned as The WORLD NO.1, the man who will perch atop the men's tennis rankings, the man who has forgot to lose. He may never eclipse the feats achieved by Roger or for that matter, Rafa( he is way behind the duo), but his emergence has given a new hope to the fans. The sport appears more interesting than ever.

a) SERVE:

The serve which lacked the power and precision to win matches has assumed the role of the Serb's strength. He amasses a lot of cheap points through his serve nowadays

b) MOBILITY:

The odds on Novak winning an event never soared higher than his rivals more due to his inability to last the entire tournament than his game as a player. Loss of a few pounds has produced a fitter version.He has successfully kept his breathing ailments at bay. His movement has become smooth and he has Rafa's number at the moment when it comes to athleticism.

c) DEFENCE:

His defensive ability has improved by leaps and bounds. The way he slides and plays the balls that look out of reach, is simply incredible. His movement to get those balls that travel away from him has certainly stood him way ahead of his peers when it comes to defense.

d) RETURN OF SERVES: Hardly there were few serves which were unreturned by the Serb in the Rome Masters final. The punchier the serve Rafa threw at him, the better the return he got. This has prevented his opponents to get cheap points on their serve and benefitted the Serb to go for the broke.

e) DEPTH and POWER OF GROUNDSTROKES- The groundstrokes generated by Novak's racket are as fast and furious as they can be. The crosscourt backhand simply destroyed the Rafa's game in the final at Rome. The rise in the power, depth, precision and speed of the groundstrokes is alarming. Rarely does he miss the lines and executes the cross-court and down the line with the same ease.

f) MOMENTUM AND CONFIDENCE- The momentum gained by this unbelievable streak is sure to last for some more matches if not the entire season. He has been on an incredible run which has made him mentally tougher which was clearly on display against Murray when he was just two points away from defeat. He held his nerves to ensure his streak remained unbeaten. Longer the run lingers, higher will be the confidence gained and higher will be the prize-giving ceremonies he is expected to attend.

Roger Federer- More Than A Legend

As Jimmy Connors summarizes the versatility of the Swiss genius: "In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist...or you're Roger Federer."

Roger Federer-the man needs no introduction, does he? The most successful tennis player with a record 16 Grand Slams in his cabinet, a champion who dominated the sport for more than 4 years reigning the top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks, just one week short of Pete Sampras's record of total 286 weeks, one of the seven players to hold a career slam. And yes, not to forget, a record five ATP World Tour Finals and an astounding 17 Masters 1000 Series. The Olympic gold medal in doubles(with his Swiss counterpart Stanislas Wawrinka) in Beijing 2008 just adds a feather to the cap of such a illustrious career.

"The stranglehold of Roger Federer is yesterday's news", "Is 2011 going to be a Rafa-Nole showdown?","The End of the Roger Federer Era" and so on.

He is no longer the numero uno in the tennis arena. His number two spot got usurped by some Serbian named Novak Djokovic who is on a fairy tale run this season and still to lose a match. Five losses already this season and the last one to Jurgen Melzer- an unheralded Austrian who had never got the better of the Swiss on any of their 4 previous encounters. For the first time in 8 years, the Maestro is without a Grand Slam trophy in his pocket. What does such turn of events signal? Lost aura of invincibility? Changing of the guard or the perfect time to call it quits for the former World No.1?

Undoubtedly, the sport is no longer monopolized as it used to be. The younger generation is faster, stronger and taller!(yeah, I do mean it-taller) ready to challenge the older one and prove its own supremacy over the rest. But Federer is afterall, a mere mortal. Going with this conception that the losses inflicted on Federer in recent times do take a large chunk away from his imperial accomplishments would be utter foolishness. Doubts still linger about his GOAT status because of his losing head to head record against his arch rival Spaniard. Critics argue that the period of his dominance in the sport got accelerated against a weak backdrop with no "real" contenders to challenge him. And the talented next generation has exposed the chinks in the armor of the Emperor.

A BORN GENIUS

Roger Federer is one of the most complete players born ever to grace the tennis court. With an all round baseline game, his power lies in his forehand-tagged as the "GREATEST SHOT IN OUR SPORT" by John McEnroe. One of the best volleyers of the game today, he is armed with a serve marked by pin-point accuracy and precision. With a one-handed backhand, he is left with a variety of options to use the slice to draw the opponent to the net or a "flick" backhand to generate pace for a passing shot. His second serve is one of the best in business. An adroit in serve and volleying, his jump smash, backhand smash, drop shots and half volley are equally effective. Gifted with exceptional athleticism(often under-rated in this category) and fluidity, he makes the most intricate shots look effortless. There is hardly any shot that is absent from his armory.

A STAGGERING CAREER

A record 16 Slams(4 Australian Open, 6 Wimbledon, 1 French Open, 5 US Open) at his disposal- a feat scaled by none.

67 career titles -4th in overall rankings in Open Era

237 consecutive weeks as World No.1-Feb2, 2004- Aug17, 2008(Total-285)

5 ATP World Tour Finals( record shared by Ival lendl and Pete Sampras)

17 ATP Masters 1000 titles

23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals reached( previous record was 10)

5 Wimbledon and 5 US Open in a row

Career Slam achieved in 2009 with Roland Garros triumph over Robin Soderling

Olympics gold medalist in doubles( with partner Stanislas Wawrinka) in Beijing 2008 Olympics

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for record four consecutive years (2005-2008)

Every ascent is followed by a descent. Wins may not be coming as easily to him now as they once used to be. The frequency of the losses may have dwindled manifold. He may even strive hard to capture a single Grand Slam in future who had his name carved in 3 out of 4 Grand Slam trophies for three years some time back. The rust on the winning machine may leave permanent scars on it. His records may even get broken sometime soon. But still, he has set the benchmark for others to follow. For the great champion he is, even the dictionary lacks adjectives. An epitome of grace, elegance and panache- let us cherish the fairytale story of this virtuoso as the one which drastically transfigured the dimensions of the men's tennis, the one which entertained the spectators with the most beautiful tennis, which redefined "consistency" and "dominance." As Bjorn Borg puts it-

"He simply does not have any more weaknesses left in him. It is such a pleasure to see him play. To me, Roger Federer is the right model for anyone aspiring to be a tennis player. It is such a pleasure to just watch him play. His shot-making has got better and I doubt there is any shot he cannot make in any part of the court…All records will tumble when it comes to Roger. He is such a complete player that I do not see anyone getting better than him for a long time from now."

Monte Carlo- The Turning Point for Murray?

Every draw on clay seems to be ridiculous for arguably the greatest clay courter of all time, Rafael Nadal. The world No.1 was yet to lose a set on the red dirt since his defeat at the hands of the Swede Robin Soderling in the 2009 Roland Garros fourth round till his encounter with the World No4 Andy Murray in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. In the wake of the recent losses inflicted on Murray by qualifiers since the Australian open final, Rafa entered the match as heavy favorite to cruise into the final. Though the consequence was all the same as expected but it was Andy whose clinical performance pushed Rafa to the limits, leaving the Spaniard gasping to breathe in his own courtyard.

Three hours of scintillating tennis and for the crowd, it was a stunning spectacle. The Brit's intention to attack was clearly visible right from the moment the match commenced. The pace of the crushing cross court backhands slammed by the racket of Murray was enough to make the KING OF CLAY shrug his shoulders in disbelief. Murray's performance just revealed that the Scot does possess the ability to adapt his game to any surface regardless of the variations that the surfaces pose. Instead of going for "hit-hard-to-his-forehand" shot, it was heartening to watch Murray going for loopy forehands into Nadal's backhand corner which elicited some nice openings for him. The different rallying patterns were executed against the Spaniard to near perfection.

The accuracy and precision of the groundstrokes that was on display did hurt Rafa and the forehand down the line proved increasingly effective. The forehand was the most impressive shot along with some big serves that made him outclass Rafa on various occasions. But at the end, the reality dawned and Nadal finally showed why there are only a few who can outlast him in long matches.

The 6-1 scoreline in the last set may invite criticism about Andy's rash and impulsive shot selection. It may indicate the collapse of his strategy or for that matter, his lack of mental strength to endure pressure in crunch situations. His performance, nonetheless, if not superior to, was at par with the best player of the world at the moment. The display of tennis artistry from Murray, amidst reports of nagging ankle problems which at one point threatened his participation in the match ,certainly deserves accolades. For a major chunk of the match, it was watching Murray at his best.

Tennis pundits and Rafa fans may be singing paean and showering praises on the Spaniard after his 7th straight Monte Carlo title, but it was the exhilarating encounter with the Scot that took everyone by surprise. No doubt, it is Murray who would be brimming with confidence to have found his form right at the beginning of the clay court season. Though his elbow injury has kept him out of Barcelona, the manner in which he came close to beating Rafa on clay would definitely give him some relief from the ghosts of Melbourne that still seemed to have haunting him.

It's Time To Look beyond Cricket

It's cricket here and there- the cricket-mania never ceases to amaze me. The frenzied Indians have not yet come out of their celebration mode. And the biggest extravaganza of cricket- the IPL has now entered its 4th season. Strange the nation never gets tired of one thing- a passion that binds the entire nation, the only sport which arouses the patriotism and nationalistic ardour of the Indians, a religion which devours a billion with joy, pride and a feeling of being at the top of the world- CRICKET.

THE MOMENT OF LIFE!

2nd April, 2011- A 28 year drought finally ended. The Men In Blue were crowned as the champions thus becoming the first host nation to win the coveted Cup in the history of the sport. It was indeed, the ultimate moment of every Indian's life which washed away all the nightmares of previous failures and instilled a hope, a belief that Indians do know what it takes to be world beaters. Tears flowed down every cheek - nationalism was palpable. The nation could not impede itself from wearing its heart on its sleeves.

THE STARK REALITY

I have been tagged as anti-national many a times but I would reiterate my stand against the doling out of money by various corporates and governments to the magnificent eleven. We won the World Cup, but what's next? Does our capability halt there? All the sporting superpowers measure their potential in terms of their position in the Olympics medal tally, or for that matter, a World Cup soccer victory or a complete nurturing of sporting talent starting from athletics to badminton to tennis. No doubt, these cricketers deserve honor but what's there for those whose passion lies in hockey or football? What's the future of a budding tennis player in India who does not belong to an affluent family? Cricket has become the identity of the nation and it is highly unlikely that any aberration is on the cards. The successful commercialization of cricket has propelled the corporate giants to pump more and more wealth into the sport regardless of the sorry state of other games in the nation.

Showering money on the already rich mass and treating them as GODS indeed pose a serious roadblock to the development of a strong sporting culture in the nation. We are still in a fix as what's our national game is. Just like the China and the United States, let us endeavor for being not only an economic superpower but also a sporting superpower too.

A Hype Beyond Proportion

A span of 28 years-history was destined to repeat itself, this year at the Wankhede stadium against a frenzied, vociferous crowd raring to witness the "ultimate" moment in their lives. The men in blue did save their best for the last and amidst surmounting expectations of a billion people, showed their mettle when it mattered the most. No doubt, it was a moment of pride, joy, glory and of course, nationalistic ardour for every Indian. The nation basked in glory thanks to the magnificent eleven who brought the CUP home.

The World Cup is history but the aftermath of the World Cup win still features the eleven as the deities of a country for which cricket has been an official religion. Any aberration is certainly not on the cards. Or it does not seem so at least for the moment. Leave aside the hefty sum paid to the cricketers as match fees, it has been raining crores for the World Champions. The corporate India is dishing out a strong competition to the government in a "Heap-as-much-money-as-you-can" contest. Residential plots as well as first AC complimentary lifetime passes by the Railways are not too far behind the almighty dollars.

Where does all this money come from in a nation plagued by acute poverty? From where do such huge pieces of land come from when half of the population is battling with itself for a shelter?The hard-earned money of the taxpayers is being doled out to that chunk of a "poor" nation which is already earning crores from its regular remuneration and usual business. It's a shame that the bureaucrats do not feel the heat of "budget-deficit" and "lack -of- funds- for- development" concept while lavishing these already affluent masses with greater wealth. The public, on its part, is equally responsible for blowing the victory out of proportion. The huge resources need to be distributed equally among other sports so that we don't get starved of glory in respective fields. Any constructive usage of the wealth is welcome. It's time we the people become sensible enough to realise that though the victory seems sweet at the moment, we don't get carried away by the hype generated. Let us feel the pride in being an Indian not just for cricket or World Cup for the matter, for everything that the nation's hands can reach for. For all the genius hidden inside the nation that is still unexplored. For all the potential that still needs to be unlocked which can fetch us a status of a superpower not just in cricket, in every other field in which we do have the ability to reach the zenith.

Patriotism Redefined

What is the first thought that enters our conscious mind when we are made to ponder on the word "patriotism" ? I am still endeavoring to grapple with the dilemma- what is it? Is it making yourself useful for your nation? Or devoting your own self to your country through your thought process? Or is it going to a cricket stadium with your face dipped in the colors of the national flag and cheering for your country through banners depicting your fascination for the players? The word, though, apparently simple, necessitates a herculean effort to get its meaning unlocked.

This is something that struck me hard when the World Cup fever was on. I am an Indian by nationality and as a consequence, it's "mandatory" for me to support the Indian cricket team, to prove my "patriotism" for the nation. Absolutely ludicrous. Sport is something which a nation's boundary cannot separate. But we, the "Indians" don't waste a single second in adulterating with the dirty politics, as was rampant before the India-Pakistan semi final clash. Pakistan cricket team does not make it to even my "favorite" list, yet it was disheartening to see the media terming the clash of the titans as some sort of official "war" , "cricket diplomacy" and generating all sorts of worthless hype. No doubt, the "Indians" were enjoying that.

I am an ardent fan of Australian cricket team. And why cannot I be? Of course, they have perched on the top as champions, dominated the sport for almost a decade. My admiration for such a team is not illogical. Reasons and evidences are ample to support my cause. But for my acquaintances, friends and relatives, supporting any other nation except India is a sin in itself. There was no shortage of derogatory remarks on Ponting as well as me after India registered a comprehensive victory against Australia in the quarters. They were showing their "patriotic" colors before a person who according to them can be aptly tagged as "The Ultimate traitor", "An Anti-National."

People do not mind selling their brains to foreign nations, foreign companies but they do gain a sense of patriotism when Indian cricket team plays a match. We are least concerned what is going on in our own backyard; in our own surroundings, (leave alone at a bigger level)- because that's not included in the "PATRIOTISM" chapter.( As a personal experience, I was shocked to find a graveyard in my college during the technical festival. For students, it was "officially" a mini- vacation of 4 days). It is irrelevant whether we contribute to our nation in any productive manner or not, as long as we have "Indian flags" painted on our faces with banners praising the greatness of GOD Sachin and Captain Cool Dhoni, we are patriotic.

End of the storied rivalry?

Is this the concluding phase of a rivalry that had taken wings long ago in 2005 at the same Key Biscayne court in the final? Does this one, although not the final, signal the twilight years of the era of Roger-Rafa rivalry, the rivalry that revolutionized the dimensions of the sport? The rivalry that marked the highest point of tennis? The rivalry that redefined the pinnacle of a sport?

Though it all began seven years ago in 2004 at Miami, but Nadal's "clout" as a potential danger to the then dominant Federer's reign captured the attention of the tennis world during 2005 final at the same event. Federer, no doubt, emerged triumphant but it was Nadal's performance that pushed Federer to produce "Federer-like" imperial tennis to come back from down two sets to love. 22 encounters, 14 of them going in favor of the Spaniard to "only" eight for the Swiss, this rivalry is indeed a storied one.

It will be the 23rd meeting- a dream semifinal(no more a final)- between the two champions. Federer after getting a relatively easy passage into the semifinals after his opponent, Gilles Simon retired hurt after just 10 minutes of match play, would be looking to improve his record against his arch-nemesis who struggled to score a win over his Czech opponent Berdych in three close sets. This semifinal may have very less "at stake", still a Roger-Rafa duel would be enough to raise the mercury levels at the Crandon Park. Both of them are still trying to be at par with the Serb's fairy tale winning streak of 25 matches in the season. Nadal is still trophy-less in 2011 and Roger after losing all his three matches of 2011 to Novak Djokovic would be eager to turn the tables around.

It would be all the same- long rallies, blistering forehands, backhand slices, drop shots, passing shots and net play. Yet every time these two players meet, the match becomes an absolute joy to one's eyes and heart. Irrespective of the outcome, redundancy of the shots just adds more meaning to the sport. No doubt, other players are fast challenging the duopoly of Roger and Rafa, yet the end of this concluding phase would let a void remain forever not only in the heart of the tennis freaks but also in the sport itself.

The Unsung Hero!

More often than not, victories and achievements generate a passion in laymen to follow their greatest sporting idols. Sometimes a valiant effort, not necessarily a triumph, is enough to reinforce the belief and pride expressed in their role models.

Though my eyes were drenched with tears after the ignominious exit of Australia, my heart stood with its head high. The respect had escalated manifold for the man who in spite of putting his best foot forward, failed in his bid to capture a 4th WC title for his team. The man who has always kept his nation before himself. The man whose iron-willed ambitions wrapped up in a velvet glove made him one of the most successful captains of the world. The man was no other than the great Ricky Ponting.

This marked the end of his campaign in the World Cups but he proved again why is he deemed such a precious asset of the Australian team and the sport in general. Australia, for the first time, were tagged as the "underdogs" going into their quarterfinal match against the hosts and eventually they could not help but justify the tag that had been bestowed upon them.

Though a blistering century from the Tasmanian could not contribute towards a winning cause, yet amidst reports of his "lack-of-form" and "retirement plans" , it just unveiled his true mettle. It was not an imperious performance from the same Ponting who had mauled India in 2003 World Cup final with a blistering 140. But it was sensible cricket played by the Australian and a true masterclass! This was Ponting's first international hundred in 13 months. What else could have he done? Wickets tumbled one after another but his grit didn't. His determination didn't wane. But the fortune was not destined to favor the brave this time.

The two Aussies- Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee- gave the match almost everything they had left in their tanks to save the match, to save their campaign, their honor. Lee, who continued his last spell with a bandage over his right eye after a desperate dive to save a boundary which hit his head, was an epitome of what I call, the Aussie spirit-the spirit to fight till the end. They fought till the last ball was bowled but had to grapple with the inevitable thanks to a brilliant performance from the Indian team. The uproar over Ricky's retirement has been too quick following their exit but a champion like him is irreplaceable. The Australian team along with all cricket fans throughout the globe, will have to wait for almost a life time for a leader of his caliber, a batsman of his character and a champion of his mettle.

"Some defeats are more victorious than triumphs"- I would never apply this theory here but still some people do have the ability to get crowned as the hero even in their defeat.

The World Cup Fever!

The World Cup fever is on. And yeah with that, go all sorts of hype, songs and dance. That is obvious. Cause the event is in sub-continent. And nothing is complete here without drama, hype and at least a song for each event.

In other times, India is a poverty-stricken country. The disparity between the affluent and the BPL people is humongous. And as it is evident, every party has a permanent objective in its manifesto to alleviate this difference and raise the standard of people. But one thing is for certain, this one is here to stay for years and would soon assume permanent membership in the goals' list of this nation's governance.

That is harsh. As an Indian, those words may not sound positive but this is the stark reality. Why do we spend so much on creating songs and dances and advertisements when people struggle for a day's meal, when so many of them die because of lack of a proper shelter, when they cannot afford to clothe themselves. These are just the basic necessities which they fail to fulfill for themselves, leave alone comfort and forget luxury. Yet, when it comes to cricket, this grim fact does not even cross our minds twice.

Why is it that when it comes to cricket we tend to overlook everything? Are human lives greater than a sport? I am not against enjoying the sport but we ought to keep our economic condition in view before going for a money-wasting spree. Unfortunately, making a list of objectives doesn't contribute to the matter in anyway. Implementation is as indispensable as planning. A better investment of time, money and energy would certainly aid in some way in mitigating the cause that has plagued the nation for years and is inevitably, showing no signs to pose itself less severely in anyway.

Those Two Days of My Life....

Those two days of my life could not have been worse. Could not have been better either. I am still in a fix whether those moments were purposed to break me down and succumb to life's twists and turns or aid me in emerging as a stronger individual bolstering the courage in me to face this world and let go of the past.I do not know. Nor do I want to circumspect. I wish to go ahead leaving certain things to destiny because some are better left untouched.

Irretrivable pain, anguish and of course, quietness was vividly apparent on my face. This was not deliberate. In fact, no one ever hopes to go through such emotions. My mother could sense something wrong( I often wonder how does she manage to understand my inner revolt without the help of any tangible words). But I was aware of the cause. I knew what was it that insidiously lowered my spirits. I was unusually silent. The house seemed dead because the child in me was no more. The happiness on my face and the liveliness in my words had become extinct. Still deep inside my heart I yearned to take myself to the battlefield. I am not a coward. I wanted to fight it out. I wanted to put my best foot forward because I never knew what it takes to lose.

I am a firm believer of the philosophy- Everything happens for a purpose. It's on our part to use our wit to discover the motive behind every situation God throws us in. I know whatever I went through those days had been deliberately designed for me. And believe me, adversities bring out those qualities in you which prosperity would have allowed to remain in slumber. I am relieved, I am contented because my heart's strength to combat with all that which I think is not correct, has dwindled manifold. I feel more complete as an individual not only physically but mentally too. And now it seems I could not have asked God for a better way to teach me the stark reality of this world.

Novak sweeps aside Murray!

The claims made by the 3rd seed Novak Djokovic to end the stranglehold of Roger-Rafa on the Grand Slams finally seem to be turning into reality. So two weeks of tennis finally came to an end today with Nole's name finally getting imprinted on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. It was the Serb's second Grand Slam title and his second Australian Open.

A sneak peek into the entire tournament would clearly favour Novak as the champion. He had been in impeccable form the entire fortnight and especially against Berdych in the quarters and Federer in the semis. And today it was no different. Though Novak entered the final as the slight favorite, yet Murray was expected to provide the Serb with a tough challenge. The Murray ,which we all know as a player, was not there. It appeared to me as if the Scot has been forced to play some sort of exhibition match in front of a huge crowd! He simply didn't have any answer to the Serb's groundstrokes . Neither his serve nor his defence- and yeah, not even his mental resilience clicked. It was a simply a pathetic match not at all worthy of being a Slam final.

No one knows-not even God- how long this man would take to enter into the elite group of Grand Slam holders, but for now, he's still the best player ever not to win a Grand Slam. Whether he believed he could win this year or not- holds no relevance now because he didn't put his best foot forward when he was required of him to do the same. And with this sort of game and attitude, the future seems bleak for the 22 year old Murray. But take no credit away from the champion. He has played the match of his life these two weeks and has now seriously reinforced his position as a serious Grand Slam contender.

This was the first Slam final since 2008 without either Roger or Rafa. And after Serbia's history-making Davis Cup victory, the champion gave the Serbs another reason to cheer for. There could not have been a better start to the season for Djokovic who, with this triumph, has now silenced his critics who once deemed him as one Grand Slam wonder! Congratulations Novak Djokovic!

Complacency is what drives us down!

Just after having a long, philosophical chat with one of my best buddies, I could feel the significance of the time passing by. We often go astray and let ourselves be a silent spectator to the twists and turns that seem to surround us blaming it on destiny. And really how contradictory it is- our heart keeps us alive to leave our footsteps on the sands of time and yet, it is the same heart which misleads us to spoil our entire life! I am still in search of an answer to this sort of relationship.

Sometimes I wonder what is it that drives us down? Success is so rare and it is a human nature to run after the rarest of rare things. But why is that people, in general, long for a stable life with a secured job and handsome salary? My experiences do sadden me cause rarely do I find someone who has a passion to go after something. Some of my classmates have planned to appear for GATE( an examination to make you qualify for doing a masters degree in top institutions of the nation) and CAT(to qualify for doing an MBA in top business colleges) at the same time. As a layman, I cannot infer anything; I cannot read their minds. It's not a healthy situation; it's something that has evolved out of desperation, out of fear of an uncertain future, out of a timid attitude towards life and out of a longing for a "smooth, risk-free" life. People prefer stability to success; a successful married life to a life lived for a purpose, a meaning.

Complacency is what drives us down. There is no other greater resistance force to leading a life with a mission than being complacent. I have seen myself how do my friends long for a job in a multi-national firm or in a software company with a good pay-package. They seem to be only interested in some sort of examination or other. If you want them to improve their knowledge in certain fields, it is sufficient to conduct an examination based on the subject and hand them a textbook. This is all what they live for. The fire of hunger to succeed seems to be extinguished.

It's a fact the day you get complacent, you plan your way downward. The passion is something that cannot be created or destroyed. It comes from within. Passion for something is in the blood of successful people. Everyone has been with gifted with some sort of talent. We have not been designed without any purpose. And very few people prevail overcoming the adverse situations that have been deliberately thrown upon them. The day we feel we are born to leave a mark behind, passion is born. This passion has got the might to outwit the complacency in us. Victory in life is so rare,hence the sweetest of all!

Novak too hot to handle for Federer

Maybe it's the signal of passing the torch to a new era, a new generation of players who can take the sport to another level. The defending champion, a four times Australian Open champion was sent packing today by none other than the 2008 champion and the third seed Novak Djokovic. Though I would have loved to see Roger lift his 17th title here; yet Federer and all his fans need to wait for some more time before this dream is realised.

Federer always known for generating superlatives at the same rate as his titles, didn't seem to be the same Federer who had amassed a record 16 Slams in a relatively short span of time. Or rather say, Djokovic outplayed him in the first semi-final of the Australian open 2011. Three sets played for around 3 hours were all about one man- the Serb from Belgrade. It was the third seed who was basically controlling each and every point from the baseline, with the serve, the returns and even the passing shots. Nothing was destined to go wrong for the Serb today but unfortunately for Roger, nothing was destined to click.

Roger was terrible with his service games, I felt. His struggle to hold was apparent. Even after getting a crucial break in the second set, he squandered the lead and just gifted the set to Nole to go down two sets to love. From there on, the road was all uphill; the aggressive Federer, it seemed, had been buried in his graveyard. Still he showed enough resilience to level the third set at 4-all despite being down an early break but only to hand it back to his opponent the very next game.

My eyes had been wet with tears by the time the match ended; I was still to come in terms with Federer's another loss in the semifinal and that too to Novak Djokovic,to whom he had succumbed at last year's US open despite being gifted with two match points. This time there were no match points, no drama on the Rod Laver arena; only one man's army it appeared and finally Nole emerged as the victor reinforcing the belief that a new generation is ready to soar high!

Stan humbled by Roger!

7 am in the morning and I was all geared up for Roger Federer- Stanislas Wawrinka first quarterfinal of the Australian Open. The match- up seemed to provide the tennis fans with something fishy! Roger's forehand vs Stanislas' backhand. It was for the first time in the history of Grand Slams that the affair was an all- Swiss one.

With the form Stanislas entered the quarterfinal, not even Roger would have expected the match to be such a cake- walk for him. The defending champion made an aggressive start to the match by breaking his opponents' serve to take a 3-0 lead. From that point it was all about the Maestro who broke Stan again to pocket the first one 6-1. the second set was a closer affair though Stan could not capitalise on the break points he got on Federer's serve. The second set also witnessed the defending champion break Wawrinka twice and in the next set, only one break of serve was enough to beat his compatriot.

The match had almost nothing to offer; it lacked the thrill and the vigour which a spectator longs for. One hour and 47 minutes were completely devoted to the masterclass form Federer- his drop shots, half volleys, runnung forehands, reflex gimmicks and even a tweener which unfortunately could not be converted to be a winner! Even Wawrinka gasped in awe; he had nothing left in his tank nor could he do anything with whatever he had. He didn't play badly but it was Roger who didn't let him control a single moment in the match.

Roger is just two matches away from his 17th Slam title; and his impeccable form which was on display today against Wawrinka needs to continue in the semis against his old foe Novak if he wishes to rewrite the history books!

FEDERER SURVIVES SIMON SCARE!

It was difficult to believe that the second match of the night session on Day 3 of the Australian open between Roger Federer and Gilles Simon was only a second round match. It seemed worthy of being a Grand Slam final. The man who holds the record for the most number of Grand Slams in the history of the sport was up against a spirited Simon, one of the few players who have a winning record against the champion. No one, prior to the clash, would have imagined the triumph to be a cake-walk for Federer, though he was deemed as the hot favorite to enter the third round.

For a set or two, the desire of a tennis fan to be a witness to an exciting contest between the two would have reduced to ashes when the Swiss maestro barely put a foot wrong. Even a minor error from Simon's racquet was mercilessly punished with an outright winner. The Frenchman was outmastered by the master himself. The imperial display of the array of shots in Federer's armor left Simon gasping in awe. The 0-2 head to head record started to seem a joke.

It's when even the tennis gods would have given up the hope of any possibility of a thriller; the Frenchman was insidiously clawing his way back into the match. Though the second set went to Federer, Simon had already traced his weapons to expose the chinks in the Maestro's armor. The flaws were left wide open when the Frenchman broke the Swiss in the opening game of the third set. No doubt, the set was a roller-coaster ride for both the players which saw five breaks of serve in total, it was Simon in the end who managed to pocket the third set.

Simon continued to stamp his authority even in the fourth set and played some brilliant shots with his forehand to make it 2 sets all. The truth was, Simon was playing better than Federer and he had found a way to keep Federer on the backfoot. Simon had to take risks; he did and did it in a superb fashion. As goes the saying, " fortune favors the brave", luck seemed to favor the Frenchman.

Roger knew he had to come up with something special to avoid being eliminated before the third round. Had the outcome gone in favor of Simon, it would have been Roger's worst performance in a major since 2004 French open. The champion upped his gear to overcome a tired but resilient Simon and ultimately prevailed 6-2,6-3,4-6,4-6,6-3.Though this was not the first time that the defending champion faced a scare in the early rounds of a Slam, but he would certainly count this one as a wake-up call for the rest of the tournament.

A Strange feeling!

Three days have passed; yet my immunity to the loneliness I am suffering from does not seem to evolve from its initial level. I am toiling hard to get over this and I know that the only solution to get rid of such a strange feeling is only through it; no medicine has the potential to cure this ailment!

I have named it "strange" because I am unable to delve into myself; I am simply clueless as to what's going on in my mind. Nothing seems to be going my way; rather I should say some sort of cocoon has developed or you may call it, a layer of rust on my mind has been able to successfully prevent me from even getting a hint of the problem inside. And the real problem lies in my incapability to clean off that layer of dust. It's really giving me a hard time.

I don't know how many more subdued days I have to go through. These days are indeed painful; these prick more sharply than cacti thorns. No doubt, life is a rainbow of spring as well as autumn; yet if pleasures don't last then why is it that winter seems endless?

A Federer-like start for Roger!

The Australian Open for 2011 kicked off amidst a lot of excitement as well as sympathy for the Australians affected by the devastating floods in Queensland. A lot is at stake at Melbourne park this year. While the world No.1 Rafael Nadal aims to become the first player since Rod Laver to hold four slams together to complete a "Rafa Slam", Federer seems to have made the best possible start to the year by winning the Qatar Open without dropping a set. Murray is still in search of that elusive break that would put him along with other elites to hold a Grand Slam trophy whereas Novak Djokovic looks for breaking the Federer-Rafa stranglehold to clinch his second major. Of course, there are dark horses like Roddick, Soderling , Berdych who can pull off an upset on any given day.

Roger ,scheduled to play the unseeded Slovakian Lukas Lacko in the first round, came into the match as the hot favorite to glide into the second round. And the desire to see an upset on the very first day at the Rod Laver Arena, got vaporised when Roger broke his opponent in game four with a forehand down the line. A forehand wide by Lacko pushed Roger to 5-1. The set was sealed by the Maestro with a backhand winner in just 22 minutes.

The second set also witnessed the powerful shot making of the Swiss. Roger raced to a 3-0 lead by breaking the 97th ranked Slovakian in games one and three. The only thing worth remembering for Lacko would be the break he got on Federer's serve when a Hawk Eye challenge showed that he had fired long. But Fedex was back to business in the next games to pocket the second set 6-1.

The third set was more of an even contest. Roger switched to the next higher gear at the right time to break for 5-3 with a volleyed winner. The rest was just a formality to serve out the match.

By such a blistering start to his title defense, Roger has indeed sent an ominous signal to not only Rafa but also the rest of the field. If the imperious form continues, the Fedophiles can sense the 17th coming soon.

Can Roger repeat his stellar feat?

Roger Federer is deemed as one of the best players ever in the history of the game to grace a tennis court. He has, of course, innumerable stellar feats to his name. But the one I am referring to here is regaining of the coveted No. 1 ranking which was usurped by Nadal in 2010 following an unbelievable season.

Since winning the Australian Open, Roger had a poor season by his own lofty standards. Quarterfinal appearances at the Roland Garros and Wimbledon and a semi-final showing at the US Open opened the doors wide for Nadal to grab the No.1 ranking from his arch-nemesis. And Nadal didn't leave this opportunity; won the next three majors to stamp his authority on the South African Airways ranking. Though Roger ended the season on a high note by clinching his 5th Barclays World Tour Finals title with a victory over Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard had extended the lead over Federer to more than 3000 points.

With Australian open round the corner and a whopping 2000 points to defend for the Swiss maestro compared to 360 for Rafa, a lot is at stake at this year's Oz Open. But Roger has sent a warning to the rest of the field ahead of the first Grand Slam by winning his 3rd Doha title. And his game seems to have glided into the next higher gear following his stint with coach Paul Annacone.

Roger is playing with higher aggression, hitting more winners than unforced errors , attacking the second serves with great returns. Inspite of being past his prime, the hunger to play and win titles has made him even more dangerous. All these factors certainly give Federer the upper hand over his rivals but it's too early to predict anything with certainty. Sports has always been associated with upsets and uncertainty. If Federer retains his form and continues attacking opponents, there's no doubt that he certainly has a crack at the World No. 1 ranking.

The Changing Nature of Human Relationships

Human relationships are fast degrading from bad to worse. No longer does the affection come out on seeing one's own family members even after a long period of time. Virtual relationships created through social networking sites and friends start playing a pivotal role in one's life. Technology can be blamed for all this messing up of social relationships, the extinction of the terms "care", "affection" and their meanings.

My sister arrived yesterday from Bangalore after one complete year. I was feeling elated pondering about what would be her reaction on seeing my "new avatar", what change the job would have brought in her and blah blah blah...She seemed to be so happy. I thought I won't be in need of my friends at least for a week till she is with me. But she proved me wrong. All my excitement has now faded away thanks to her behaviour. From day one, my laptop and her cellphone seem to have become her muse. She keeps herself engrossed in all these material things so much that she does not care about her duties and responsibilities towards her family members. It indeed hurts but who are to blame for all these results?

It's not the only case so that I can blame my sister. Nowadays, the young generation has become so much addicted to technology that it's not a big deal for them to neglect their own societal responsibilities. Fake love, care showered upon by short-term friends have replaced the true affection of your own family members! Strange but true...this is the harsh reality. The insidious effects of such behavior would soon put a question mark before the very existence of the family bonding that used to be so strong some years ago.