10

SPORTS

TUESDAY
11 September
2007

Legend in the making

BY NIKI CHEONG
THE last tennis Grand Slam for the year, the US
Open, ended yesterday morning local time,
and the name at the tip of every tennis fans
tongue is not of champion Roger Federer. Its
Novak Djokovic.
Granted, the recent win was Federers 12th
Grand Slam singles title, allowing him to equal
the great Roy Emersons total Grand Slam
tally. This also means that he is only two
Grand Slam wins away from equaling that of
the legendary Pete Sampras, at 14. Federer is
only 26 years old, and the way hes playing, he
might just get that two by mid next year.
Perhaps it is because of this and his flawless playing over the past few years (Federer
has been ranked No. 1 in the world since
February 2004) that everyone sort of expected him to win, and there was marginally less
fanfare at this success.
Yet, for the whole time during the finals at
Flushing Meadows, New York, it looked like
Djokovic was going to ruin Federers party.
Sure, history will show that on that night in
the Arthur Ashe stadium, Roger Federer
became the first tennis player in the Open era
to win four consecutive US Open titles, beating
the Serbian in three sets.
Yet those who had watched the game would
realise what a close game it was. Lets not
even talk about Djokovics missed
opportunities (he had seven set points in the
first two sets), Federers less than impressive

tennis is enough for a decent conversation.

Djokovic, albeit disappointed, was gracious
in his defeat, and paid tribute to the champion
that is Federer, saying after the game that
Federer has once again proven why he is the
best.
He can take consolation however in the fact
that hes had an amazing run all year
Djokovic started making an impact on the
scene last year, but barely anyone knew who
he was. This year, hes won two ATP Masters
titles, the second of which he beat the top
three ranked players Andy Roddick, Rafael
Nadal, and yes, even Federer en route to his
win. He had also made it to the semi-finals of
both the French Open and Wimbledon before
becoming the first Serbian man to feature in a
Grand Slam final.
And hes only 20 years old. Compared to the
other veterans Federer, Marat Safin, Roddick
who are on the other side of 25 , the world is
at his feet. This year alone, he has beaten his
contemporaries in the form of Richard Gasguet
and Rafael Nadal, both 21. And hes improving
by the day.
Perhaps it is apt then that he lost to Roger
Federer in his first Grand Slam final event, in
the year that he has made a name for himself.
If his current form is anything to go by (and
the three set breaks he took from Federer in
each of the set they played over the weekend),
Djokovic could well be the next legend to follow Federer.
And theres no bigger compliment than that.

A decade
of Williams

IT IS unfortunate that Venus Williams was eliminated in the semi-final round of the womens
tennis single category at the recent US Open in
New York. What a story it would make if she
had gone on to win on Saturday.
Imagine this: Ten years ago, in 1997, there
was barely one black tennis player on the tour.
Then came the 17-year-old Venus Williams, with
braids in her hair, stomping her way into the US
Open finals her first ever before losing to the
great Martina Hingis in straight sets.
Ten years on, Venus is a former world No.1
and holder of 14 Grand Slams, six of which are
singles titles. She currently also holds the record
for the fastest serve ever recorded by a female
player in a main draw match at 129mph.
And what a journey its been. Alongside sister
Serena, one year younger and who holds eight
Grand Slam singles titles, Venus has been attributed to have changed the face of womens tennis.
Lets not just talk about the race factor. Venus
has also been a strong proponent in equal treatment of male and female players, especially

when it comes to prize money. This year,

Wimbledon equaled the prize money for both
sexes, the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments to do so. It was apt then that Venus took
home that coveted prize, her fourth Wimbledon
title.
Venus lost to Justin Henin in the semi-finals
on Thursday, just a couple of days after Henin
defeated sister Serena. Justine became only the
second player in history to defeat both Williams
sisters in a Grand Slam (the first was Martina
Hingis in 2001 at the Australian Open).
The fact that such a record exists is testament
to the impact that Venus and Serena has had on
the tennis landscape.
Injuries and family issues may have slowed
them down, but with two Grand Slam singles
titles between them this year, they look set
to continue winning for a few more years at
least.
Perhaps, another similar article as this can be
written when Venus participates in her 15th US
Open in 2012. At 27 years old, no one should put
it past her just yet.