The total fall of the clay king

It all started in Madrid where Roger defeated Rafael. It was the first time Rafael was defeated in his home land. It was just one ATP Series which started as the downfall for the clay king. Roger was able to win the title in straight sets(6-4,6-4). It was a waited victory for Roger.

Then came the Cincinnati/Toronto series. He lost to Djokovic in the semis. HE lost in the straight sets. It was so evident that the other players started taking over the clay king. With a strong determination the players headed for Roland Garros.

The unbeaten Roland Garros king was shaken this year. He met his defeat in the 4th round at the hands of Robin Soderling. Well the Roland Garros became a new one without its king. Roger easily completed his career grand slam by winning the French Open for the first time.

With the upcoming grass tournament the defending champion was expected to retain his title and put an end to all the vibes. But with the knee injury Spaniard decided to back out of the wimbledon. He didn't even make an entry. He took a break for two months or more.

After the rest, Rafael got an opportunity to play the US Open 2009. Since his action was missed the tennis world eyed him to finish his career grand slam by clinching the first US Open title. But he had some stomach problem through out the tournament and was not progressing weel. He lost to Juan Martin Del Potro in the semis. The US Open still remains as the dream for the spaniard. Will he make it as the reality in the next year?

It is not being in top or stopping players from clinching the titles. It all stands on how far you thrive. It is survival of the fittest. I guess Rafael need to check his health and make some progress in the forthcoming tournaments.

US Open 2009 - Women's Draw

It was all different in the women's side.All the action was heated from the first round for there were more shocks and unexpected results.

One time French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic suffered her defeat in the first round itself. Next in her row was the Serbian Jelena Jankovic. Not even winning a single grand slam she was highly in this tournament. But guess she disappointed her fans. The next one was my favourite one,Dinara Safina. Holding on to the first rank without any grand slam titles was difficult for her and was highly expected to win her first ever slam title. But every thing became a dream for her in the hands of an unseeded player.

With most of the seeded players out Maria Sharapova was expected to be in the hot list. But guess she was out of touch in her raquet since she exited in the third round giving a huge company for Dinara. It was another surrender to the unseeded player Oudin. On the other side a silent progress was made by the wild card entry Kim Clijsters.

With most unseeded players in the tournament the action became too weak. It was time for Venus to get her exit. She got her exit in the hands of none other than the Mom, Kim Clijsters. Kim was so happy at the end of the action. With only Serena left from the top seed, she was expected to win the title. The quarter finals had four unseeded players which was so unusual in the tournament.

I was so excited about the semi between Kim and Serena. With everything going out of her hand Serena gave away the first set to Kim. It was not a trouble for Serena since she had always made a lot of comeback. Everything was out of place even in the second set for Serena. Kim was so composed and was a point away from her come back finals. It was at this time Serena was called for a foot fault and she lost her temper. This gave away a penalty point for Kim and she entered the finals. Unbelievable for Kim that she had made to finals.

The other end was so smooth and Wozniacki made to her finals. I was happy about the finals since I was so sure that Kim would make her come back a worth while. The match happened for 1 hour and 30 minutes with the new champion Kim.

Kim became the first mom to win the title after Evonne Goolagong. It was time for all the emotional union with her family. Kim didn't make it easily. She defeated Venus and Serena,the two top most players. After taking break for two years she was so composed and was fully energized. She will never regret coming back in her career.

Well, This years grand slams had different taste and I guess I will catch the readers with the updates next year.

US Open 2009- Men's Draw

This year's US Open was an extra ordinary one in both the men's and women's draw. I didn't miss even a single action and was quite happy about it.

Marat Safin who had the last card in his hand Didn't get a chance to go ahead of the first round. He exited in the first round itself. First time in the history of US Open all top 16 ranked players entered the third round. It was all getting heated up in the men singles. The most expected Scotland romeo exited in the fourth round. I was really shocked since I expected a semis between the Scott and the Spaniard. The unexpected result was that the semi between Rafael Nadal and Juan Matrtin Del Potro.

With the Scott out I thought Rafael would make to his first ever US Open final and finish his career grand slam. But the semi was so stunning that the Argentinian easily defeated Rafael(6-2,6-2,6-2). I was happy at one side but I always wanted the Spaniard to get the defeat in the hands of Roger.

As for Roger, the struggle started in the third round from Lleyton Hewitt followed by Tommy Roberdo in the fourth round. Robin Soderling came as a big challenge in the quarters. The best match was the match between Roger and Djokovic. They met after a long time and it was very interesting. Roger swept the match in straight sets. This match was the best since Roger mad his unbelievable shot between his legs while running to the base line from nets. This is the best shot in the tennis that Roger had played so far.

As usual the final was very interesting since Roger was having a upper hand and was easily expected to win the match. As usual Roger easily broke the first set and swept the match easily. With the start of the second set Roger held the upper hand. I expected him to win the set. When Roger was leading the match, unexpected break happened. Del Potro took over the games from Roger and leveled the games in the second set. With all these came the first tie break of the match. But Roger made a couple of mistakes and the set was in Del Potro's hands.

In the third set as usual Roger held the upper hand and pulled the sets from Del Potro. With the two set lead I hoped he would finish off the match and create a new record of having six consecutive US Open titles in his hands. But Roger gave away the fourth set to Del Potro in the tie break.

With the final set I thought that the match was going some where like Wimbleodn2009. Found that Roger was struggling when Del Potro took 2 breaks and was leading the set by 3-0. It was at this time Roger had some issue with the chair umpire and burst out. I have never seen him so furious in the court. With the two breaks it was very obvious that the Del Potro was nearing his first grand slam title. A forehand mistake by Roger gave the first title to Del Potro.

The first final for Del Potro became a fruitful one. Roger was serenely calm and he was also happy. He didn't feel any thing emotional. I think this was because he already got some records in his hands and is used to not to make new record as like the wimbledon2008. I think becoming a father has changed him a lot too. With him in all the slam finals and winning two of them was a different thing for me(Though I missed two of the finals).

Change Of playing tactics:

I found many changes in Roger's play.
1. First thing is that he struck the ball too hard. It is a welcoming one.
2. The athletic action was new to him. He was running from one end to the other end.
3. He avoided coming to the nets too frequently. This was a drastic change.
4. He had the change of pace in his striking drawing the player form baseline to the nets.
5. Finally he has adopted the angles(like Rafa).

I hope next year he clinches all the titles in a row.

10 Little Indians (1965)- The Movie

This movie is adapted from Agatha Christie's book. 8 people with different background are invited for a party by a wealthy man. Without knowing the behind the plan they all end up in the place which is situated in the hill top. On reaching the place people soon find that the 2 servants were also appointed only 2 days ago for the guests. They also find that the host is delayed in his trip and will reach the place only by the next morning. What they don't know is that they will not survive the night.

After dinner when they play a record they find that the host charge all 10 people with the murder. They share how they are invited for the party and before putting two and two together one of the guest dies. Then one of the servant dies. The only communication with the city, cable car, is also cut off. They find themselves to be left out no choice than to figure out the invisible killer. In the meanwhile engineer(hero) who happens to be not the same person but has come for his friend(dead) tries to figure the killer and at the same time falls in love with secretary(one of the guest). After the servant's death everything goes awry and each one suspects each other. With the next murder it becomes thrilling as to who the invisible killer is. The movie brings us to the tip of our seat when only two people are left. The suspense is so grueling that the survivors are none other than the 2 lovers. The secretary picks the revolver and shoots the engineer and enters the home to discover all the truth. The real murderer and the reason behind it. When every thing is confessed there comes the turning point which no one would expect.

I liked this movie for the screenplay. As a classical piece it consisted of only 10 characters. You don't get confused with the characters and there are no pages of dialogues. Catch this piece if you time.

When will it stop?????

I think watching a movie in a theater is very far for me. Every time I go to watch a movie I have some thing that may not happen to every one. As far as I remember I have put down the list.

The very first time I went to a movie(The matrix) with my cousins we entered the theater after the movie had started. We missed the first 20 minutes and as a result I totally didn't understand the movie. This happened some 10 years, so now I have watched for more than 25 times and even know the dialogs by heart.

The next time I went to the movie(Black) with my cousins I didn't understand anything. I felt ashamed that I didn't know our national language. Later I got a copy with subtitles and watched the movie. Now I can understand Hindi and also can manage to a certain level.

The same year my cousins took me to a Tamil movie(mayavi). I don't like the hero much. watched the movie for the sake my of cousin.

I always wanted to watch my favorite hero's(madhavan) movie on screen. I decided to take my cousins and finally ended getting scoldings from them. The movie(Vazhthukkal) was horrible. Even though my favourite hero had acted I felt the movie to be the worst in my life.

I wanted to watch a harry potter movie on the screens. Me and my friends went for the order of phoenix movie. Firstly, the movie was pathetic. After break me and my friend missed the 10 minutes part since we went to get some refreshments. Anyways I decided that I will never watch harry potter on the screen for the movie made no justice to the book.

Recently I went to Angels & Demons with my friends. Well as I m known for making some non sense mistake. I did something when entering the screen. I missed a step and slipped my slippers and was searching for it without even bothering that the movie had started. I was on knees and searching with my hands. Thank god. It took only 5 minutes for me to locate it. But the best part was that every body around me(even the strangers) came to know what I was doing. Thank God the lights were out.

The final piece is this one. Two days back I watched a movie(Ninaithalaey Inikkum) with my friends. The movie was horrible. The best part was that when we entered the screen the movie had started(as usual) and I forgot to notice the steps. What would have happened,I fell on my knees. My entire body weight rested on my right knee and I have got a sprain. Thank god there was no fracture. Even when typing this post I could feel the pain. More over there was problem with the projector after the break and was a delay for 15 minutes. Already we were ready to get out of the theater and never expected for a delay. We stayed in the theater for the sake of the monet that we paid.

I feel like banging my head whenever I go on with such kinda experiences. Most of the time I felt like running away from the theater begging WHY ME!!!!I hope I watch a worthwhile movie in the near future and more than that I think I should at least make it on time for the movie. Waiting for such movie.

Pavement for pedestrians or two wheelers????

When ever we watch a movie we stare at the stunts and wonder if is it possible in real life. For example in any traffic the hero will try to ride the bike on the pavement to catch the rogue and definitely you should have wondered if it is possible. Well stop there. Stop dreaming. Recently after returning from the training while I was returning from my work in a bus I saw it with my own eyes. I saw first a biker to start to ride in the pavement and then found 10 more people to do the same. I was shocked first and then smiled to myself after all I m living in India where traffic rules are yet to be regulated properly. Then after a couple of days the same thing happened and I was totally shocked coz this time I saw a foreigner riding the bike in the pavement. Guess when they come to our country they change themselves. I think they feel that the rules can be bent as they need it.

As far my school taught me the pavement was for the people who walk but I guess the content has to be changed for the following generations. They have to re-frame the content as the pavement for the bike riders not for the pedestrians.

I think the people are to have to come to their senses. They should realize the purpose and the use of a particular thing. If the bikers take the pavement then where the pedestrians will go. The pavement was found to avoid the accidents caused due to the pedestrians. If the pavement is taken over I guess the pedestrians has to take the median for traveling. This is not a kind of joke but has to be thought seriously by every individual for you will be in the pavement one day and find a biker coming on to you.

Yen Samayal Araiyil - Episode 3

Well, as usual I got another chance to look inside the kitchen and prepare some thing. This time it was not the upma but a rather simple dish, potato fry. I actually have done that properly for many times. But it was only for me. This time I prepared for two people(me & my bro). Since I knew the preparation by heart I didn't require any guidance(I though so). I chopped the potatoes into fine pieces and then put the frying pan on the stove and poured some oil. Then roasted certain items which are required for garnishing. Then I put some sambhar powder as I always do. Initially I put a small quantity and on second thought I put some more. I didn't know why I did that but that was where everything went wrong. I realized I forgot to take some onions. So I kept the stove in simmer and took the onions and chopped into fine pieces. I did this in 5 minutes which is a record time for me. But guess what the dhals got fried more and became a bit dark brown. I just ignored and put the potatoes to roast it. After mixing everything I figured that the sambhar powder was in excess and on an impulse I thought I should add some more potatoes to level the composition. I frantically started searching for potatoes. But there was none left. Thanks to my mom. She didn't want any vegetables to get wasted since she was not home for a week. Then I saw that the dhals became dark black. I had no other go than to taste this potato. It was horrible especially the dhals tasted like hell. But my bro was so kind that he told that only the oil was in excess. I really have to appreciate his tolerance level.

LESSONS LEARNT:
1. I m very bad at cooking.(I don't know when I m going to learn them).
2. I did it whole-heartedly but still somewhere something went wrong.
3. Never in my life give a second thought while cooking(adding anything in excess).
4. I guess in future some one is going to experience the bad cooking at my hands.

Guess I would do something better the next time I enter the kitchen.