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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
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With Win, Djokovic Sets Sights on Paris
The search for the most physically punishing, dramatic, tense and mentally exhausting athletic competition on Earth is over. Tennis has won—in a rout. The only question now is this: What can it possibly do for an encore?
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Rafael Nadal of Spain after a nearly six-hour men's final. The only Grand Slam now tournament he has yet to win is the French Open.
In a final that left a world-wide audience looking on in disbelief, Novak Djokovic outlasted Rafael Nadal for the Australian Open title in a record five hours and 53 minutes, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5.
It was the second straight Australia Open title for Djokovic and his third straight victory at a Grand Slam tournament. He remains No. 1 in the world and the master of Nadal: Djokovic has won their last seven matches, all in finals.
Djokovic now has five Grand Slam titles in his career, well behind Roger Federer's 16 and Nadal's 10, but he's gaining ground with no sign of slowing down.
"We made history tonight," Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony.
When he hit his last winner at 1:37 a.m. Monday morning in Melbourne, Djokovic dropped to his back. Moments later he ripped open his shirt, screamed and pumped his fists.
But the trophy presentation showed the true condition of these men after the adrenaline had faded: They could no longer stand up and had to be given chairs. Before the seats arrived, Nadal leaned on the net while Djokovic stretched and seemed on the verge of collapse.
The record books will note this match as the longest Grand Slam final, almost an hour longer than it took Mats Wilander to beat Ivan Lendl at the 1988 U.S. Open (four hours and 54 minutes).
But the real history was in the shots, in the passion and in the indefatigable limbs of these two players. Several times, they both looked spent.
And then they came back to life, swinging furiously, running recklessly and sliding until their ankles seemed about ready to crack in two. At 4-4 in the fifth set, Djokovic fell on his back and was breathing heavily after Nadal won a 31-shot rally.
After five hours and 24 minutes of tennis, he had just sprinted and stopped and sprinted for more than 300 feet, according to an ESPN graphic—all to lose a point. He still had about 30 minutes left to play.
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Novak Djokovic celebrated the hard-fought match by ripping off his shirt.
"You're going through so much suffering your toes are bleeding," Djokovic said. "Everything is just outrageous."
Even more outrageous: In the semifinals, Djokovic needed five sets and nearly five hours to defeat Andy Murray. That was Friday evening.
On Sunday evening, Nadal won the first set after a shaky start from Djokovic.
But Djokovic quickly found the combination that works so well for him against Nadal. He hit forehands and backhands from inside the baseline, and used the unique arms that seem to stretch 10 feet when he's on the run. And he pounded away at Nadal's serve, winning 55% of points against second serves.
"I never played against a player who's able to return like this," Nadal said. "Almost every time."
The match soon had a familiar look, and so did Nadal: glum and resigned to another defeat against the man who had beaten him in last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals.
And then came the crucial moment, when Nadal served at 0-40 when trailing 4-3 in the fourth set. One more point and Djokovic could serve for the match. That one point never arrived as Nadal played his most brilliant tennis of the evening: forehand winner, service winner, backhand winner, ace and a strong serve to finish off the game.
What next? Why it began to pour, of course. Ten minutes later the roof over Rod Laver Arena was closed and the struggle was on. Djokovic came within two points of winning the match in the fourth-set tiebreaker before Nadal sent the match to a fifth set.
Nadal used to be the best defender in tennis. He's now second to Djokovic.
Nadal used to have the most endurance. Now, Djokovic does. And Nadal used to be the greatest—by a mile—at wriggling out of impossible situations, at saving crucial break points and hitting passing shots from awkward positions on the court, especially when a match was on the line.
Djokovic is now king in this regard, too. Down 4-2 in the fifth set, he did what he does better than anyone: escape.
When Nadal earned a break point in the final game of the match, Djokovic hit a forceful forehand for deuce, made the sign of the cross and then finished off the match two points later.
One might think that Nadal, who became the first man in the Open era, which began in 1968, to lose three consecutive Grand Slam finals, would be shattered after such a loss. Yet he sounded remarkably upbeat after finally pushing Djokovic to the edge of defeat (they had never played a five-set match before).
"Important thing for me, during all 2011 I didn't play much like this. I'm happy I am in the real right way," he said. "I suffered during the match, but I enjoyed all the troubles that I had."
And what now for Djokovic, the man who has improbably raised the bar in tennis just a few years after Federer won a record 16 major titles and Nadal showed that he could consistently beat the once invincible Federer? Why the French Open, of course, the only Grand Slam tournament Djokovic has yet to win.
"I have never been in finals there, and I have a feeling that I'm ready this year to achieve that," he said.
If both Nadal and Djokovic are ready when that June day arrives, then maybe there is yet somewhere better for tennis to go. At the very least, officials at Roland Garros should consider starting the match in the early morning—or install lights.
Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Nadal, Associated PressNovak Djokovic, Grand Slam tournament, Roger Federer
Sunday, January 29, 2012
29/366 Steavenson's Falls three years after the bushfires
29/366 Steavenson's Falls three years after the bushfires
It's the first time i've been willing to come back after everything was burnt.
15 second exposure with B&W 10 Stop ND filter.
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Saturday, January 28, 2012
Toca Cielo Black Light
Toca Cielo Black Light
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Friday, January 27, 2012
Tiger in contention in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Maybe those swing changes are paying off for Tiger Woods.
Woods moved into contention with a 3-under 69 Friday after three birdies over five holes on the back nine in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, finishing two shots behind leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark (67).
“I’ve grown to understand what Sean (Foley) wants me to do and how my body is going to do those things and produce the numbers he wants me to produce,” Woods said.
Olesen made seven birdies in his first 12 holes for a one-shot lead over 18-year-old Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland (70) and Matteo Mannasero of Italy (65).
“For me it’s very special. It’s not many years ago I was watching them on TV,” Olesen said of the world’s best golfers. “I know it’s tough, but I’m trying to keep playing my own game and do my best.”
Rory McIlroy finished with a 72 after a two-stroke penalty for brushing away sand in front of his ball on the fringe at the ninth hole.
The 22-year-old U.S. Open champion, playing again with Woods and top-ranked Luke Donald (72), opened with a bogey and double bogey on the third after an errant drive and some shaky putting.
He rallied with three birdies before a double bogey on the ninth. That’s when Donald spotted the sand infraction and called him on it.
Players are allowed to brush away sand on the green but not on the fringe.
“Wasn’t thinking clearly and a penalty there,” McIlroy said. “My ball was just maybe six feet off the green and there was a lot of sand in between my ball and the hole.”
McIlroy, the co-leader after the first round with a 67, managed two birdies on the next three holes after the infraction.
Woods started slowly with two birdies and a bogey on the front nine. He warmed up with birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th before dropping a shot on No. 16 after an errant drive landed in deep rough.
“I thought I played well today,” Woods said. “I made a couple putts here and there, but it was tough out there. The greens got a little quicker, a little bit drier and the rough is certainly getting deeper and more lush.”
The best score of the day came from Manassero, who made seven birdies in a bogey-free round.
Woods is tied for fourth in a group that includes McIlroy and Robert Karlsson of Sweden (72).
Spain’s Sergio Garcia (69), Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (69) and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel (70) are another shot back at 140.
Fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer (73) failed to make the cut in a tournament he has won three times.
Much of the attention was on Woods, who is trying to follow up his season-ending victory last month at the Chevron World Challenge with another win. That ended a two-year run without a victory, a period in which the 14-time major winner endured a series of injuries and turmoil in his personal life.
Woods had a bogey-free first round but admitted the greens fooled him much of the day. He seemed to figure them out Friday, making several key putts including a 10-footer for his birdie on the 15th.
Woods said he’s adapting to the new system under Foley.
“If you would have asked me (six to eight months ago) if I would understand the system as well as I do and the numbers I’m producing, I probably would have said no,” he said. “Now I do and when we talk, it’s very simple.”
McIlroy said he saw signs of the old Woods during the past two days, which featured a strong short game and ability to shape the most difficult shots.
“He’s definitely got the ball under control. He seems comfortable. He’s only had a couple bogeys in two days,” McIlroy said. “He’s not making many mistakes and he’s very consistent, his ball flight looks good. Really looking forward to battling over the weekend.”
Donald struggled with his drives much of the day, finishing six shots back. Third-ranked Lee Westwood (72) was another stroke back.
British Open winner Darren Clark missed the cut after shooting a 9-over 153. Others failing to qualify for play on the weekend included Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (147), Edoardo Molinari of Italy (149), Todd Hamilton of the United States (149) and Michael Campbell of New Zealand (149).
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Thorbjorn Olesen, Luke Donald, birdies, Rory McIlroy, Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, double bogey, ebook download
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Got That Frosty Mug Taste
Got That Frosty Mug Taste
A&W All-American Food
1410 Nevada Hwy
Boulder City, NV 89005-1805
(702) 293-2340
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i didn't have to work today, so I jumped in the Jeep and went scouting. Found a couple places that I will shoot in the spring. And a few to go to when we get some more snow. Nice day
Kenny
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