Jinx

I was about to sleep last night when I decided to check the current Wimbledon match in the sport channel. I don't normally watch early stages of any Grand Slam not until its 4th round or Quarter Finals, I just had the urge to check what is the happening to switch my focus from the last match between Portugal and North Korea in World Cup. Oh Btw, the game is not that interesting.. though Portugal won 7 to none against PKR.

So I didn't know that my least favorite player, Federer (hahaha peace to all my friends :D ) is currently battling his survival in the tournament. They are currently playing the 4th set and 1 game each. I haven't notice at first that Federer was 1 set behind Falla who won the first and second set of the match. I was in this "Wow" state learning that Roger might exit the tournament earlier.. beyond expected.

It was in the 10th game, he got into a dimmed moment scoring 30-40 with Falla serving for the match when everything turn in favor of him again. And then I was in dismay!

The match finished with Roger winning in fifth set 6-0...

Good thing, I didn't have nightmare after that!

Update...

My journal wasn't been updated for a couple of weeks. Like eating, I think I slowly loosing my appetite.. hahaha.

Anyway, I been quite busy in two months now, taekwondo training and competition, Sony Ericson WTA tournament and Marathon.

February 6 and 7 dated my first Tae Kwon Do tournament. Two weeks prior to the date, I been very busy training for 3 hours, 3 days a week. It combines my preparation for the competition and for my marathon a night before the BIG day. Its really a rush training since the students were been away for End of Year holiday.

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9pm, February 6. My first night marathon in Putrajaya, Malaysia. My 2nd marathon to date. Together with my friend, Shai, I join the 7.7km fun run. It was a sweet experience but not sweeter than my first run. I was holding back to run fast since I'm worrying about my leg calf and muscles to contract. If it happens, my taekwondo tournament the next day will be doomed. I finished the race at 9:42pm... yeah 42 minutes after the starting time.. Well, I really thought I might get a medal that time.. but still I got none. Since we have nothing to do after the race, We decided to walk going home and took some pictures in Putrajaya's beautiful lover's bridge :D

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7am, February 7. the Big day. I received an early sms from our group president, Eddy, requesting us to be in the competition place at 7:15. I did not inform him about my activity the other night, so he is expecting me and the rest of the team to be physically fit in that morning. He calls an early meeting for a run-through of the event. Since MMU is the organizer of the competition, We, the demo team are set to perform. I came late.. I wasn't able to join in the run-through. He says its okay. hehehe.

My fight was set to start at 9am, but the program proper started at 10. In my mind I thought, "bruises will be all around my body before We perform". I watched some fights, between the lower category, to observed and see how they move and play the game. Some of them didn't use the whole place to move and chase their opponent. No solid kicks and their stamina are very low. They are panting too much on the first half of the game.

My two teammates won their first match by a no-show opponent. I was next, the butterflies on my stomach started to bother me. I was nervous. I saw my opponent and it add ups the bad thoughts I'm feeling that day. Eddy is in my back telling me what to do if he thinks theres an open spot and possible points which I follow. It was a great match, a great experience and I can't wait to be part of the next tournament. I got a bronze :D

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2pm, February 28. Sony Ericson WTA Kuala Lumpur Open. After attending the mass at the City, Shai and I went to Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort to watch the final match of the first WTA in KL. I was excited to see one of my favorite players, Elena Dementieva, who I called "Mommy". She is soooo pretty. I still love her though she didn't win. She is good but her opponent, Alisa Kleybanova is superb. Her ball placements are excellent that Elena can't break her serve or even save her own service game.

Malaysian Open - The Finals

2nd part of the weekend's-capade!


Its been a week since the 250 tour in Kuala Lumpur started. As I mentioned on my previous entry about the tournament, there are a few known players joined the first and new part of ATP 250 tour in the City. Sadly, we haven't had the chance to see most of them due to early exits and the fact the we only bought tickets for the final game.

Some of the early ousted players includes, former world no. 4, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, Jose Acasuso and 2 time grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt. I really rooted for Lleyton to win the tournament if Verdasco or Davydenko wouldn't make it. I thought this will be a great time for him to show his ability adding that the tournament was held in Asia and near to his Country, Australia. But, there, badluck is around the air.

Luckily, Nikolay and Fernando smoothly sailed to the semis whom they faced the other top seeded on the tour, Robin Sorderling and Fernando Gonzales. Nikolay who defeated the charming Frenchman, Gael Monfils who just won the "Open de Moselle" a week ago in a straight set, 6-3, 6-3 faced Soderling who won to Czech, Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 6-2. And Fernando Verdasco who won to Richard Gasquet, 7-5, 6-4 faced Gonzales who defeated the ever focused Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 6-3, 6-4.


Not Too Easy Win

The top seeded, Nikolay, won a not too easy game to Robin Soderling before reaching the final. The game lasted for morethan two hours. Robin secured the first set with a very convincing score, 6-1. But "Kolya" doesn't feel intimidated and win the last two set, 7-6(1), 6-2.

(Game statistics: Both players produced 9 total aces, 67% of Break points, 62% service points, 38% return points and 50% total points won. - source: Protennislive.com)

Verdasco on the other hand, demolished Gonzales in straight set, 6-4, 7-5. Which makes my finalist prediction into real.


The Final GAme

The feeling of being present to a Pro Tennis Final is unexplainable. For the newbie like me(us), where everything are "first-time", the crowd, the noise, the people arriving late and those cute kids running up and down the stairs can be appreciated easily. No "shush" unlike in a movie house when someone is giggling or murmuring, this is different, and I really love the experience!

Between the two favorites on the tour, I easily fell over and decided to cheer for Davydenko. I'm a huge fan of both players, but between the two, I felt that the Russian is more deserve to win the title (just an opinion). Adding that most of the spectators are cheering for Verdasco, So it's "Me Against The World".

Fernando Boleh!
Malaysia Boleh!

Both players are good on their down the line ground strokes. Hitting the ball back and forth with an average of atleast 120kph. But, compliments should be given to the Russian, who keeps his pace and consistent on his game. Verdasco haven't mastered the consistency of his game yet. I don't know. Its shows on every execution on his serves and rallys. But he is still a good player.

Break points are won by Nikolay on the 7th and 10th game of the match, which help him to secure a first set win against Fernanando, 6-4.

7th game result:

10th game and first set result:

Do-or-Die

A nerve breaking second set started with both players losing on their serves. Exchange of breakpoints on earlier games which keeps me thinking if Verdasco can pull-off to win the set to have a chance to win if ever they made it to the 3rd and deciding set.

Nikolay seems to gain his composure and able to break on 11th game, an important point away from the Spaniards.


With Nikolay serving for the match, I prepared my self to dash down nearer to players stool to secure an autograph. My mind is already set that Nikolay will won the match. But the fences are lock :(

(Game fact: Verdasco produces a total of 4 double fault against 1 from Davydenko in the second and final set.)

The crowd are cheering crazily for Verdasco when both players get ready for the 12th game on second set. This atleast boost Verdasco's confidence. But Davydenko is so focused that he still manage to win the game and become the

First Proton Malaysian Open Champion!

(Picture from: Malaysianopentennis.com)

Pity I wasn't able to get a sign from Nikolay, but atleast I had Fernando's!

Malaysian Open - 2nd Day - Qualifying Game

2nd day of the Open and our 1st day in the tournament.

Super excited since finally, after dreaming to watch a live Pro Tennis, they are here now to grant my wish.

Took some of the photo using my friends cameras...

Woong-Sun Jun of Korea and Brendan Evans of USA after their match. Evans win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Memorable comment from Evans to the Umpire: "You Robbed me twice!".


Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan signing autographs to some spectators after defeating Aisam-Ul-Hq Qureshi of Pakistan in straight sets, 7-6(3), 6-2.


Michael Yani of USA being interviewed after winning a great game with fellow American, Scott Lipsky in their friendly atmosphere match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.


Scoreboard for Rohan Bopanna of India and Mariusz Fyrsternberg of Poland match inside the center court. The former wins in a straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. (Some of the pictures were accidentally deleted :( )



And before we leave the center court, we saw some of the players practicing for their upcoming matches, testing and familiarizing the court. One of them is..

Yep! David Ferrer of Spain :D

Malaysian Open

So excited that finally after a month of planning, we will be able to watch a Professional Tennis for the first time. We only bought tickets for the final game since we can't watch the Main Draw until the Semis due to our work.

The tournament started today. Tomorrow, since weekends, we will try to watch the second day of qualifying games. :D

2 days to go

I am still overwhelmed by Del Potro dethroning Federer at the last Us Open.. hahaha.. (apologies for the fans).

What excites me most and what am I looking forward to, is the upcoming ATP tour in Kuala Lumpur. Finally, they visit my adopting country and include it for one of their ATP World Tour 250 tournaments. I'm just disappointed that none of my favorites will be on the country's tour. But its still exciting that some of the known names will appear like Hewitt, Monfils, Verdasco and Davydenko.

Crossing my fingers that hopefully next year Rafa, Simon and Roddick join the KL tour.

Gray day

I'm very excited last night just to be disappointed after more than 4 hours of watching the final match of Wimbledon. My mind is still denying the sour lost of one of my favorites and finalist on this year tournament in All-England Club.

Andy Roddick change his game(thats for sure) and really deserve to win, but Roger Federer stop him. Wahh.. Roger fans are surely still celebrating the wins of their bet. sigh.. sigh... sigh!

In the good side, Andy reaches the final of a Grand Slam after years of trying. He still the winner for me.. hehehe.. (bitter)

Talking about tennis, it's been weeks since my last game with my Indonesian friend in Cyberia. He keeps on complaining about his right hand and still on rest in order to play again. I'm also waiting for my Filipino friend to recover on his illness... he still had this stone on his kidney and still under medication for almost 4 months. He was been my tennis buddy for a year now.

I have again received an invitation from a Church friend for a tennis game this coming Saturday in National Tennis Center, this could be a chance for me to check my improvements on my new loved game. Sadly, I can't make for this week since I already commit my weekend to accompany a friend from Philippines in Genting Highlands. This is his 3rd time in the country and 3rd to planed to visit the place. Our first two plans was been canceled due to tickets and bus schedule unavailability. Hope we can make it this time.. yay! In the brighter side, My tastebuds will again enjoy the tasty hotdog made from my Motherland!

Bibo.. bibo.. bibo..!

(Late post) My Idol Won the Australian Open

My idol just won his first Hardcourt Grand Slam and become the first Spaniards who win Australian Open...

Really love the game... both finalist exert all their power to give us a great game... Feel sad seeing Roger burst into tears when he received his runner up plate :(. He really wants to win badly to even Sampras on his 14 Grand Slam records.

Knowing RF, he will not stop until he got what he wants. He is one of the graceful and greater player of all time..

And lastly, my other favorite player who was been beaten by the mighty Roger :)... c kuya Andy!