Category: Tennis

Mera Naam Djoker (My name is Djoker)

Diving into the phenomenon called Novak Djokovic- you can love him, or hate him. But is is impossible to ignore him!

24 and counting!

We were truly blessed to witness tennis when three all time greats took centrestage together- Federer and his class, Nadal and his tenacity & Djokovic and his mental strength- who do you like the most? I admire the first two, but if you ask me to pick one, I would side with the ‘Mr.Unpopular’- the ‘Djoker’ in the pack- this is dedicated to him.

Djokovic is often hated- it’s fashionable to criticize him- for throwing rackets, for riling up the crowd or for not getting vaccinated. But as they say, there are two sides in every story.

Djokovic grew up in war ravaged Serbia- the adversities he faced right from childhood shaped the person that he grew up to be. Couldn’t have been easy to play tennis (and become so so good at it) when survival should have been the first consideration. As he started his tennis career, there was also the aura of Federer and Nadal who were dominating the tennis world then. He had to come out of the shadows to get his place in the sun. This shaped Djokovic’s underdog persona and the challenger attitude that is so unique to him.

Federer had the best technique- whatever he did on court was so natural. Nadal was the most tenacious- his never say die attitude was legendary. What does Djokovic have? Well, I believe he has the best all court game among the three but more importantly, he has the mental strength that adds a different dimension. So, ‘Nole’ as he is called, can be two sets down in a grand slam, can be down and out with an injury- but you can never rule him out. In fact, he most often uses adversity to spur himself on- he is at his best when pushed to a corner.

What I truly admire about Djoker is his fitness- he seems to be getting better with age. He is almost 38 now but can easily give the youngsters a run for their money- he is the Virat Kohli of tennis when it comes to fitness.

There is also a vulnerability in him that I admire. He is often seen as brash and controversial but there is an air of authenticity that I admire. What you see is what you get from him- there is no pretension- whether views about the Covid vaccine, missing grand slams due to his doggedness when he could have easily added to his all time record tally- he always walks the talk. There is also a certain niceness in him- the way he looked up to Federer and Nadal, while trying to beat them… to now passing the baton to Sinner and Alcaraz- from being a challenger to handing over the crown to the Next gen- the transition would not have been easy. He has a great sense of humour- when he mimics Sharapova or when he eats the hallowed grass after every Wimbledon win… or when he reminds his kids to sleep early vs watch his late night matches live- there is a likeable earthiness in him.

I wanted to pick three matches that I think truly defines his career and his achievements.

The first one was the Australian Open final vs Rafa in 2012. Djoker went into the match after a tough five sets semis win against Murray while Nadal got the better of Federer. The final was supposed to be a close one- and boy, was it a classic! This was easily one of the the most physical tennis matches of all time- a battle of attrition- the quality was impeccable throughout. Every point was a marathon- no one gave an inch. ‘Nole’ finally triumphed in a five setter in close to six hours- both the players were so tired that they could hardly stand during the cup handover ceremony. What stood out for me here was Djokovic’s supreme fitness.

The second one was the semifinal vs Federer in the 2011 US Open. Federer was already the universal GOAT then while Djokovic was just about getting started. Fed led by two sets to love and even though Nole levelled the match, Fed served 5-3, 40-15 with two match points to set up a final vs Rafa.  A forehand cross court winner followed- and Djoker was not ready to accept defeat yet. What followed was magic- Djokovic turned the match on its head to actually win the 5th set 7-5. One of the best comebacks of all times. He would go on to beat Rafa to win the final. And this wasn’t the only time that Djokovic beat Federer from match point down- talk about mental strength.

The last one is from the recent Olympics in Paris. While Djokovic had all the slams not once or twice but at least thrice- a medal for his country always eluded him. So, success in the Olympics was top priority for him. He had a big surgery to repair torn meniscus in his right knee in June 2024. No one gave him a chance in the tournaments to follow- he actually challenged his body to play Wimbledon just over a month after the surgery and against all odds- made it to the finals vs Alcaraz- he got pulverized in the final- a straight set loss in possibly the biggest defeat Djokovic had faced in a slam final- it was the most one sided match. The Olympics started less than three weeks after Wimbledon and they faced again in the final. Recovery from injury, turning the tide against someone who beat him so comprehensively recently, winning a first ever gold for Serbia in tennis Olympics- there were so many challenges- but Djokovic turned adversity into an opportunity- what he has been doing since childhood to take out Alcaraz in two close tie breaks to get the gold- what a player!

99 singles title wins, 72 big titles, 24 Majors, 40 Masters, 7 year end championships, highest number of weeks as World No.1 and also that elusive Olympics gold medal now- a fighter, a challenger, a fitness freak, a vulnerable, honest authentic champion- ‘Djoker’ is also the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of tennis for me!

Dus Ka Dum (Ten of the Best)

The ten most memorable sporting moments from 2024

Pages from my 2024 Scrap Book

How fast has this year passed by? We were just in January the other day and in a flick, the year’s gone! I am quite an old school guy. I still make my own sports scrapbook- cutting pictures and putting them on a diary. As I was putting it up for 2024, quite a few of the best sporting moments of the year flashed by me.

So, these are my top ten sporting moments from 2024.

The year started with the West Indies cricket team visiting Australia. The Caribbeans have lost their mojo over the years. Gone is the aura of the 80’s- now they are better known as ‘Callypso Collapso’. So they were meant to be pushovers. But in GABBA- they created history by knocking over the Aussies. Defending a little over 200 in the fourth innings- Shamar Joseph would bowl unchanged for 10+ overs with a broken toe to take a 7-fer and script the biggest upset win of the year. Loved it!

Staying on cricket- the Indian cricket team has long been the most consistent team without winning the finals. In fact, lately,  they have become quite the chokers when it comes to the big moments- back-to-back WTC finals, ODI World Cup Final loss at home in front of 130,000 crowd- the list of heartaches is indeed long. So, when India finally managed to put it across the Proteas to win the T20 World Cup, it was the stuff of dreams. India played well throughout the event, but the final was the real deal. Kohli came good at last to give India a respectable total but with Klaasen going mad- all South Africa needed was a run a ball in the last five overs of the chase. Enter Boom Boom Bumrah- with impeccable line and length, he created the pressure. Hardik held his nerves to apply the choke further and when Surya took that crazy boundary line catch in the last over- India had finally won a World Cup after 13 long years!

While I love wearing the Blue, I have quite a soft corner for Purple too- not just because of Cadbury but because that’s the colour of my favourite IPL team- the ‘Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo’ became a big hit this year with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) being so dominant. Rollicking starts from Narine and Salt, playing fearless cricket, cameo endings from ‘Russell Muscle’, excellent all round bowling performance capped by dream starts by Starc in the two most important knock out games- KKR were relentless this year. The back-end staff- Gambhir, Pandit and company did a stellar job in motivating the team and building the aggressive mindset- so when Shreyas Iyer lifted the IPL trophy, it almost seemed like it was a foregone conclusion.

India has long been a story of lots of optimism before the Olympics begins but lots of disappointment after the event is over. This year was a mixed bag- we did not win any golds but got six medals in all. Manu Bhaker’s achievement of winning two bronze medals really stand out- shooting has been one of those fields where we over promise and under deliver every time, but for the ‘young gun’ to stand up when it really mattered was really something! She actually missed another medal as she was a close 4th in her third category. Well done Manu! India is proud of you.

The other Olympics achievement that was memorable was Djokovic finally completing the set. This year has been passing of the baton in tennis with the ‘Next Gen’ Alcaraz and Sinner winning all the slams- but what stood out for me was Djoker’s resolve and tenacity as he mastered Alcaraz on the Roland Garros clay- he sacrificed a lot of smaller events and even had a surgery just before the event- but then to make a comeback and win the Gold was epic! ‘Nole’, easily the GOAT (Greatest of all Time) of tennis!

Talking of tennis- it was a sad moment for all the fans as Nadal ended his illustrious career in ’24. Rafa’s tenacity and his prowess on clay makes him another serious contender for the GOAT- but that’s for another day! Blighted by injuries- it wasn’t the best way to call it a day with the Davis Cup swansong where he ended with a loss and Spain exited early. But what we will remember is the friendship and the rivalry with Federer, that amazing Australian open final with Djokovic which lasted 6 hours, fourteen French Open wins (yes, that’s not a typo), the quirks and the bandana. Thanks Rafa- for the memories!

Rafa is a big football fan and he would have been proud of what the Spanish national team achieved this year. Before the Euros started, there were other more favoured teams- England were singing loud ‘It’s Coming Home’, Germans as hosts were quietly confident, while France with Mbappe are always there or thereabouts. No one quite gave the young Spanish team much of a chance. But the power of youth has the power to transform. Nico Williams and the prodigee Lamine Yamal were outstanding with the stable Rodri holding fort at the centre- Spain kept going from one peak to another and finally putting to rest England’s ambitions through a late goal in the final.

Staying on football- the AFCON (African Cup of Nations) was held in ’24 and Ivory Coast’s win was quite a roller coaster. They were the hosts and the expectations were hence quite high. The land of Didier Drogba always does well in football. But the start was so bad that they actually fired their coach after the group phase. They struggled and stuttered in the knockouts also but somehow survived. So, when Sebastian Haller scored a late winning goal in the final against arch-rivals Nigeria- it was an unbelievable achievement. Made sweeter as Haller was actually making a swift comeback after recovering from cancer. What a story!

In the African context, one more 2024 highlight was the continued dominance of the Springboks (South Africa Rugby Team)- they are the reigning World Champions having defended the title in Paris last year, but they upped their level this year. The Springboks won the Rugby Championship this time after five years- this is an event where the best southern hemisphere teams participate- South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. Their biggest rivalry now is when the Springboks play the All Blacks. In fact, just to see the Haka before the match adds to the experience before any All-Blacks match. While SA won five of the six games, the match at Ellis Park vs NZ was easily the best. The All Blacks led for almost the for the entire duration of the match, and by 10 points going into the last quarter. But the Springboks always manage to make a late surge, and that they did again. Coming back from the dead against the biggest rivals to cap a memorable win!

The last one in the list is actually just from yesterday. A twelve-year old had a dream- to become the youngest world champion in chess. They say you should have a big ambition- if you do, then actions follow, and results after that! Fast forward six years, Gukesh actually made it happen- becoming the World Champion in chess beating Ding Liren in Singapore to become the latest and youngest ever to do so, and the first Indian after Vishwanathan Anand. To see him cry with joy after the win warmed the hearts of all Indians.

Cricket, Olympics, tennis, football, rugby, chess- quite a diverse list for me as I think of the top ten sporting moments of the year. What about you? What would you add to this list?

Million Dollar Baby

What makes the fantasy sports format such madness!

Recent reports indicate that a growing number of sports fans are hooked on to their laptops or mobiles just before 8 pm IST. Surveys indicate that it will stay this way for the next month and a half. Source: Anonymous.

Well, it’s the season of fantasy sports and none is bigger than IPL, India’s great cricketing extravaganza. For the uninitiated, fantasy sport is a game where you are a virtual manager with a budget (say a million dollars) with your baby that is a team of players who get points for actual performance in the game. It is a format that is currently in India $ 20 Mm in size with a 10X growth in last two years, as per reports. Dream XI and Fandromeda are some of the most popular ones though the official websites (IPL, EPL, etc.) have their own versions and are just as popular.

The early days of Fantasy sports in India were in the early 2000’s when ESPN Super Selector was big. I remember the craze during my MBA days. In the 2003 cricket World Cup, there was as much cheer when Vaas took a first over hat-trick vs Bangladesh (for someone who had Vaas as his fantasy team captain!) as when Sachin hit a six off Shoaib Akhtar at Centurion. It was pure joy when the Mirror newspaper would carry your name when they published the daily leaderboard for the 2006 Football World Cup. A Nokia phone as a gift for winning a fantasy tournament was a prized possession. Thierry Henry would be my permanent captain in my fantasy EPL team during the glory Gunners era and he would always deliver!

So what makes the fantasy sports format so special?

To begin with, the Indian sports fan always has a unique point of view. ‘Why promote Vijay Shankar when you have DK?’. ‘Who gives the last over to Vinay Kumar?!’, and so on and so forth. Well, fantasy sports gives a great chance to the passionate fan to be the couch Harsha Bhogle and create a team of players who they think will do well.

In psychology during my MBA days, I had read about the n-ach motivation- there is this latent need for achievement and managing success with a finite budgets versus a competitive peer set gives you a pure high.

Fantasy sport also provides a great platform to a hardcore sports fan for an evolved engagement level. So it’s not just the KKR matches for the Kolkata fan, but you have to follow the other games too- as there is a need to see where the next fantasy points are going to come from.

In a way, this format is also an extension of your personality. There are people who ‘play safe’ and go for middling picks whereas the entrepreneurial types would go for more ‘lateral picks’ and risk it all.

Lastly, whether it’s an office or an alumni group, it’s a super way to stay connected through a passion point which is sports. So who gets the bragging rights as the winner? Whose leg can you pull as he is the bottomer? Such banter is all that matters, sometimes much more than the prize money. Some fun to spice up your day.

And now to the million dollar question, how to succeed in fantasy sports?

Well, there are no set rules, but there is always some method in the madness. So, sharing some tips.

The fantasy sports format is like a stock market. You need to plan well when you want to buy and sell a player. You do not want to follow the market all the time. So being proactive and buying before a big performance is the key. Like Guptill gave average returns in the World Cup 2015 format till he hit 237 in the Quarters vs Windies. Someone had Guptill throughout the cup and dropped him for just that match while someone else bought him for the first time in the Quarters. Guess who had the last laugh?

It pays to think like an economist as the resources are scarce. Everyone would want to pick all the big players but with a finite budget, one has to pick and choose. The trick is to maximize the return/ price ratio. So a Kohli purple patch will be important, but a good performance from a rookie who is cheap (like Unadkat in last IPL) is almost gold dust!

It always pays when you do your research. So a Nadal always does well on clay court, Rohit Sharma performs well in Eden Gardens and Kohli is mind-blowing in chases. Past trends can be a good indication of what may happen in the future. An eye on the fixtures and how scheduling patterns are also help you to move ahead in the fantasy table.

You can do all your preparations, but there can be no substitute to gut feeling. So kudos to those who picked Pennetta in the 2015 US Open (when she entered the tournament as the 26th seed), or the one backing Fakhar Zaman as power player in the Champions Trophy final. Good hunches are critical to fantasy success.

Lastly, it’s just a game- so important to enjoy the bragging rights and leg pulls along the journey because that’s why we play the game in the first place.

So, the alarm clocks and calendar invites have been set. Here’s to the next 8 pm deadline!

To end, as one great man once said, ‘Fantasy game is 90% luck and 10% skill. But don’t try it without that 10%’!

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It takes two to tango

My take on ‘Fedal’ and other great rivalries in the world of sports

2017 has been a watershed year for men’s tennis. At the beginning of the year, if someone suggested that Federer or Nadal would win a Grand Slam, he would have surely been laughed at.  But fast forward to the end of the year, and ‘Fedal’ has swept the Slams- it is Federer 2 Nadal 2. So who is the greater of the two? And hence, the greatest of all time?

The Federer vs Nadal match-up has been the one of the most glorious sporting rivalries of all times, certainly the biggest of the last decade. It’s Federer’s effortless natural ability vs Nadal’s grit and never-say-die attitude; Federer’s grass court ballet vs Nadal’s clay court monopoly; Federer’s poetic backhand vs Nadal’s gladiator like forehand. Who can forget that epic Wimbledon ‘08 final? Surely, one of the best matches of all times. Federer has had the rub of the green in 2017 but Nadal leads the overall head to head 23-14. Federer leads the Slam count 19-16 as of now but Nadal has age on his side to do the catching up maybe. 2017 indicates that we haven’t seen the last of them surely. So let the debates continue as these greats continue to enthrall us.

Tennis has a history of great rivalries and awesome match-ups. I grew up idolizing Becker and one of the earliest memories was a troika of Becker vs Edberg Wimbledon finals from ‘88 to ‘90. Both Becker and Edberg were grass court studs. Becker’s diving volleys, and Edberg sliced back hands- quite a treat to watch. Edberg took ‘88 and ‘90 while Becker won in ‘89. The rivalry would actually spill-over to the coaching box when Edberg would manage Federer while Boris sided with Djokovic.

Borg vs McEnroe was one from the previous era- Borg with the ‘good boy’ looks and ‘ice-cool’ attitude vs the proverbial ‘bad boy’ mercurial McEnroe. They had many a memorable match but the ‘80 Wimbledon final was one for the ages. Borg won in five sets but the fourth set tiebreak probably deserves a separate blog post in itself. McEnroe would get his revenge in the ‘81 final but Borg’s surprisingly early retirement would rob us of many more classics.

Sampras vs Agassi was a similar clash of styles- Sampras the boringly efficient cool and calm champion vs Agassi the charismatic colourful joker with a bandana. The best serve vs the best return. The two from Uncle Sam’s land would have many a memorable fight, including that magical point from the ‘95 US Open final.

On the women’s side, Navratilova vs Evert would be an enduring rivalry in the early 1980’s. Again a clash of styles, the two would dominate the world of tennis with 18 out of 19 grand slams between them from ‘82 to ‘86. Great friends off court, Martina would have the overall edge in this match up.

Graf vs Seles was the headline clash in the 1990’s- Seles would have the upper hand on clay court while Graf would mostly dominate on the other surfaces. The rivalry promised much more till an eccentric Graf fan stabbed Seles in ’93. While Monica made a comeback after two years and even won a slam, things would never be the same again.

Great sporting rivalries go beyond the game of tennis. In cricket, the Ashes is a milestone for every fan. It’s when the Aussies and the English hope they will have the bragging rights as the teams fight for the smallest cup you can imagine. It is win at all costs here- even if you have to go the ‘Bodyline’ route!

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The Ashes Urn- MCC Museum, Lord’s

Closer home, the India vs Pakistan clash is one of the most sought after events which brings both the countries to a virtual standstill. The stakes are high- so a Sohail vs Prasad type situation is always around the corner. Too bad, that we don’t play more often nowadays.

From the world of football, there is the eternal question. Who’s the greatest? Pele or Maradona. The rivalry here transcends generations. Pele- the all-rounder, equally adept with both feet and the head, Maradona with just his left foot, but what a left foot!  Pele recently joked that he has challenged his good friend Diego to continue the debate only once he crosses 1000 goals. Till then, the discussions can wait!

When it comes to club football, there is the El Classico between Barcelona and Real Madrid- also a battleground for the Messi vs Ronaldo duels of late. In EPL, there’s the Manchester Derby and the North London Derby between the Gunners and Spurs. And closer home, the Calcutta derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan which routinely house a hundred thousand crowd even now at the Salt Lake Stadium on derby days.

Moving on, the athletics track saw Ben Johnson vs Carl Lewis fighting for the sprint crown in the 80’s. Ben with his lightning starts, Lewis with the deadly sprint, to make up at the finish-line. Ben would win the all-important 100 metre dash in the Seoul Olympics in ‘88, only to be beaten by the doping ban.

The game of chess saw a clash of styles in the 80’s and 90’s- the safe and defensive Karpov vs the aggressive and charismatic Kasparov– the later had mostly the upper hand. Sebastian Coe would make Steve Ovett produce the run of his life, every time they competed. Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna drove each other wild whenever paths crossed on a Formula One track. Muhammad Ali and George Foreman and their mercurial rivalry gave us ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ in Kinshasa. NBA in the late 80’s was always about the Jordan vs Johnson debate.

We idolize champions, but what makes sports truly memorable, is great rivalries. After all, it takes two to tango!

 

 

 

 

 

A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream

A dream about a fictitious tennis GOAT (Greatest of All Times)

This tennis season has been a stuff of dreams. The new guard has made way. The old favourites are back- ‘Fedal’ is ruling the roost. As the big two (French Open and Wimbeldon) are around the corner, there is a world of expectations- will ‘Fedal’ continue to defy age and make it a season for the ‘Oldies‘? Or, will the current lot (Murray and the Djoker) get back their Mojo? Or, maybe the time for the next generation (Thiem and Zverev) to stand up and signal a change of guards?

I saw a strange dream the other night. There was a debate between us friends recently on who is the greatest male tennis player ever. Well, I saw in my dream that God was giving me a boon- of choosing talents between players across generations– and hence putting together a fictitious player who surely is the greatest ever. Interesting, isn’t it? We all have our favourites and soft corners, but how will we go about creating this ‘fictitious GOAT’? So here is my attempt…

To start with, I will choose Federer’s natural ability. Well, someone may argue that Federer just as he is, may be good enough to be the ‘GOAT’. His silk smooth game, carefree shots- such a joy to watch. 18 grand slams and counting. There are a lot of things that training and practice will give you, but Fedex’s natural ability makes him better than anyone else.

I will next pick Del Potro’s fore-hand. Here is a guy who could have reached far greater heights but for his many injuries. A game with one shot, but what a shot that is. So that booming fore-hand from ‘The Tower of Tandil’ will be a great ammunition.

When it comes to back-hands, it is mostly a second shot for most players. Not for ‘Stan the Man’. The Wawrinka back-hand is a weapon that all peers fear. Ask Djoker about his French Open 2015 experience and he will vouch for it. Waw can rip it down the line or cross court. A serious weapon, if any. And I am a purist who loves a single handed back-hand to a double handed one- any day. So Wawrinka and his back-hand is my pick.

Goran’s service is the next pick for me. In a game of rallies, he was in a way the first one who made the service a serious weapon. It was quite boring to watch Goran at times because all sets would progress to tie-breakers. In fact, when he lost to Agassi in the ‘92 Wimbledon final, he still had 37 aces in that match- just imagine! So Goran and the insurance of his terrific service would be a great weapon in the armoury.

If you serve well, the return has to match it. Who better than Agassi for his service return? Deuce court or advantage court- forehand or backhand, Agassi was the man. He even joked recently on how he used to read Becker’s tongue to know which way the serve was coming! That or otherwise, Agassi terrorized big servers during his time and made them look ordinary.

Volley is an oft ignored part of the game now. People slug it out from the base-line. They hardly ever approach the net. But if you have to rule from the net, I would choose none other than Leander Paes- yes, he is a doubles specialist. But such quicksilver touch, deft hands, and what anticipation. No wonder, Paes and his net play is ‘Umarless’.

That takes me to my favourite player of all times, Boom Boom Becker. Boris had the charisma, and the ‘rebel’ feel. He made memorable comebacks from two sets down to win multiple times in grand slams. But what made him absolutely stand out was his stupendous athleticism and dives. Who can forget that incredible dive to win that point in ‘86 vs Lendl on his way to a second Wimbledon title? Those dives and fist pumps defined Becker.

My next pick will be Nadal’s defense. In today’s break neck game of attacking tennis, Nadal wears opponents down through his magical defense. You have to hit three winners to actually win a point against Rafa. That for a man whose career was over in his first professional year due to a life threatening injury! No wonder Rafa has won nine times at Roland Garros and is a favourite for ‘La Decima’ this time around. If I have to bet my life on a tennis game, I would bet on Rafa and his defense to see my through.

Tennis these days is more than just about the strokes. So I would now have to pick Djokovic and his out-of-the-world stamina and energy. Djoker is easily the fittest of all players I have seen. He manages to look fresh even after six hour slug fests– like the one vs Rafa in the 2012 Aussie Open Final. He just wears down the opponents with his energy and then jokes about them the way only he can during press conferences!

My next bet will be Sampras and his monotonous consistency. Sampras ruled the roost in the 90’s- he had such a perfect game. He would be downright boring at times but you know, in the end, he would always win. What a trait to have in my ‘GOAT’.

All players have their favourite surfaces, Nadal has nine French Open wins and Fedex has seven Big W triumphs. But if you are looking for the best adaptability– look no further than Bjorn Borg. The ice cold Swede won 6 French and 5 Wimbledon titles- in surfaces diametrically opposite to each other. I would like my player to be versatile and Borg was the epitome of adaptability.

Some players who narrowly missed out from this list were Edberg and his volleys, Courier and his fore-hand, Chang and his resilience, McEnroe and his drama, Connors and his longevity, and Lendl and his monotonous consistency.

What fun it will be if we seriously have such a player who is a ‘Jack of all Trades’? Surely he will sweep a grand slam of slams, or maybe two? ‘The GOAT’…. Care to challenge him?