Circle Closed

JD Blom

Roger Federer talks to the press at the Sony Ericsson Open on March 23, 2011 in Miami, Florida.

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He looked a bit like Kim Clijsters during and after her loss to Victoria Azarenka the other night: detached. Like parents who realize their children are more important than the thrasing they just endured between the lines.

Or perhaps, in Federer's case, he simply was demoralized. It was a bit sad to witness. Rafael Nadal made it seem far too easy. Same way he did 7 years ago.

If Rafa is indeed in Raja's head, it had to have happened instantly. I remember there were murmurings that Raja was sick that calm, humid night in Miami 7 years ago. I don't remember where those murmurings came from as I was posting about on tennis forums all over the place, but they seemed there to comfort those who needed to believe the outcome of the match would have been different had Raja been 100% healthy. A year later, the next time they played, Rafa took the first two sets from Raja in the Miami final, though he ultimately lost the match.

And so it was this storied rivalry began with Rafa winning the first four sets. Talk about setting a tone.

Tonight, safe to say, the circle closed.

Will they ever play another important match? Will Federer settle for third or fourth best? Will he win another Slam? Who can see the future?

Savannah said that 2011 would be all about Roger Federer.

I'm beginning to see her point.

Face Of The Day

Li Na in Elle China.

(Thanks, Savannah)

Confessions

Savannah has the story on the recently-retired former world No. 1 who admitted she, well, cheated on the grandest stages of tennis.

Bold Statements, Propaganda, and New Sponsors

What she said.

Quote For The Day

"I'm old enough to remember Willis Reed of the New York Knicks walking onto the court at Madison Square Garden with both knees taped to the max to tumultuous applause. That was how I felt when Venus not only walked back on court but picked up her racquet and resumed playing. She then proceeded to put on a tennis clinic. Visibly in pain she proceeded, not with flash, but with skill and knowledge to dismantle her upstart opponent who won the first set in a tiebreak that ended with Venus injury. Showing why she has won seven slam titles and playing with passion unseen for quite some time Venus won the second set 6-0.

"The final score was 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-4. Don't believe any bullshit you will hear or read about what happened last night. Venus trended worldwide on Twitter because of the dress. In the end the dress was a secondary story. The big story was that Venus started a match and she was going to finish it. Kind of makes that "tummy ache" from a few years ago laughable doesn't it?"--Savannah

Checking In

As many of you know, I have been MIA over the last several months because I was running an intense campaign for the Maine House of Representatives as an insurgent.

I ran alongside a popular, well-entrenched, three-term moderate incumbent. By the end of the campaign, we had done such a good job that word on the street suggested we would win.

Wasn't meant to be. The voters chose to give the incumbent his last two-year term with 60% of the vote.

I'm proud of our campaign and humbled by all the good will the people of my district bestowed upon me.

I had the time of my life.

Sorry I haven't been around to comment on so many of the intriguing stories in tennis, but I'll get back to that when the time comes.

I'd like to thank Savannah and MadProfessah for their contributions in my absence.

See you soon.

Quote For The Day

“Some people have that drive more than others who’ve been number one. Rafa doesn’t seem like he cares as much for number one, or he doesn’t show it.”--Roger Federer

(Thanks, Savannah)

Welcome Back, Savannah

That's right, folks. She's back.