₦airaland Forum

Lap 22: Hamilton is dead last after some bad luck and Mark Webber is head and carburator above everyone in a Red Bull one-two with Massa third 1.2 seconds behind S. Vettel now. I guess I have to reconsider that Brawn GP victory procession now, Barichello is 5th, Button 6th.

Still a lot to come sha, oh, Raikkonen has crashed out after mechanical problems while Webber has survived a drivethrough penalty to still be ahead.

@poster
Sorry about the end of your dream to join the WAGs. Try somewhere like Dubai and Eritrea. I hear black girls like you are in high demand

LWKMDFH. Where else do you think Nigeria should be rated? Drawing all the qualifiers while playing meaningless friendlies as the spirit leadeth? The days of 1/20 are over for good and unless something major happens like we win the AFCON and reach the World Cup semis (are we even going to qualify for these tourneys?), we're heading towards 10/50 where we can be with the likes of madagascar and andorra.

Go ke? For better for relegation till a life threatening and career ending injury do them part. Paycut ko, payload ni.

@Ruudie
True enough, except from Rog-Nadal, I can't think of any other rivalry out there. Roger's just a class above everyone else with Nadal coming a close second. Even when he didn't have a coach, he was doing well. Imagine head to head with A-Rod as 19-2, Soderling 10-0 who were losing finalists in grandslam finals! I have a funny feeling that when Fed retires, Nadal may dominate similarly if he masters the other surfaces like Federer.

Eurosport UPDATE


GERMANY: Rumours in England link Manchester United to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar but our colleague in Munich tell us that the Dutchman is close to signing for Stuttgart. Meanwhile in Spain, Marca claims a 20m euro deal could be agreed later today.

And so the rumour mills continue to grind,

20m is too much. Include depreciation and recession index, lol. Besides, the sun too dey lie. At least, we've sealed Gab Obertan.

Complete set of grandslams, Check! World number 1 ranking, Check! Nerves of ice to come from 6-2 down in a final tie break, Check! 15 grandslams, Check! Yep, i should think he's better than Nadal.

@Sauron
LWKMD. A yoruba adage says "Were dun wo, ko se ni lebi". Leave our dear DK alone o. Even if he were supporting Burnley, he'd also try as hard
What's the gist about Obertan? Is that news for real?

@jalether
And today's players are the welders, carpenters and gigolos in disguise? When last has a tennis player had such consistency at grandslams like King Roger? All sports evolve over time and the new tennis which places so much reliance on scientific methods, regimes, all-round development and sound coaching and tactics rather than raw talent and grit. Do you see Nadal evolved from a claypit to a composite? The transition began when Federer whipped Sampras' butt. That's why A-Rod has more chance of winning another slam instead of dying as a one-slam wonder. Now he has a vast arsenal of shots and not just a booming service game.

@DK,
abeg tell him o. It was not man that revealed to Pete Sampras to come to Wimbledon after 7 years. It was the spirit of God and the need for closure. Men, yesterday was history and even Rod Laver was there. Those two have won more grandslams than everyone else in the tour put together. Roger's game is complete, even Pete Sampras says so. Besides, Pete never won the french open. It's going to be real work trying to find what record he has to break now because I can't think of any except maybe Pete's 7 wimbledons. Wanna bet against Fed smashing that or at least equalling it?

July 18th

gyde:
This wasnt a g8 wkend for me,tennis-wise,I wanted VENUS to win,she didnt,I wanted somone to challenge federer-no one could, Am afraid I could lose interest in the sport, unless of cos RAFA gets back or better still HENIN comes out of retirement

If today wasn't a challenge, was it because they didn't get to 50-48? I'd also like the see Henin-hardenne back but it most likely won't happen. Nadal or no Nadal, tennis is not getting boring at all.

~Sauron~:
Man Utd + Owen + Valencia will still beat Bayern Munich home n away.
Such is the quality of the squad that we can take any half-decent player and still win the title.
Didn't we sign Henrik Larsson at 35 some seasons ago?

Dayo, something happened to your retentive memory?

Lol, I'm tired of all the talk about Owen, let him play first. If Larsson can do it, I wonder why Owen can't.

************************************************STATISTICS************************************************

* Born Aug. 8, 1981 in Basel, Switzerland.

* Bursts on to the scene in 2001 when he ends Pete Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round before losing in the quarter-finals.

RECORD 15 GRAND SLAM TITLES

Wimbledon, 2003-2007, 2009; U.S. Open 2004-2008; Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007; French Open 2009.

* In 2003, becomes the first Swiss man to win a grand slam after beating Mark Philippoussis in the Wimbledon final.

* Is the only man to win five consecutive titles at two different grand slams - Wimbledon and U.S. Open.

* Is the first man to win Wimbledon-U.S. Open double four years in a row.

* Is the only man in the professional era to win three consecutive majors twice in his career when he captured the 2007 Australian Open title.

* Equalled Bjorn Borg's record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2007.

* His run of reaching 10 consecutive grand slam finals is snapped by Djokovic in the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals.

* The 2008 five-set epic at Wimbledon is regarded by many as the best ever tennis match. He lost the match to Rafael Nadal.

* His 2009 French Open crown makes him only the sixth man - after Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi - to have won all four grand slam titles during their careers.

* Has reached a record 21 consecutive grand slam semi-finals.

* Breaks American Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles with his 15th win in the 2009 Wimbledon final to reclaim the world number one spot from Rafael Nadal.

* In 2009, becomes the first man to reach seven successive Wimbledon finals since the abolition of the Challenge Round in 1922. It is also a record 20th grand slam final for Federer, beating Ivan Lendl's 19.

OTHER CAREER MILESTONES

* Becomes the 23rd man to top the ATP rankings in 2004, and keeps the ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks.

* Holds a record run of 24 consecutive final victories, which was snapped when he loses 2005 Masters Cup final to David Nalbandian. Finished the season with an 81-4 win-loss record.

* In 2006 he reached all four grand slam finals, winning in Australia, Wimbledon and the U.S. among a haul of 12 titles and a 92-5 win-loss record.

* Has a professional era record of 65 consecutive wins on grass, which was finally snapped by Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final.

Wimbledon - Federer takes record with epic win


Roger Federer won a record 15th Grand Slam after beating sixth seed Andy Roddick in an epic fifth set 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 in the Wimbledon men's final.

Federer's victory was all the more incredible for the fact that he recovered from one set down, and trailed 6-2 in a second set tie-break before he won the next two sets to seize control of a scintillating encounter on Centre Court.

Roddick refused to be denied, and the American fought back against the world number two with ferocious intensity, and clinched the fourth set 6-3 with real conviction.

The fifth set was a positive barrage of aces from the rackets of both players but finally, serving to stay in the match for the 11th time, Roddick was broken as Federer sealed a monumental win.

At 27 years old, Federer has now overhauled Pete Sampras's incredible tally of 14 titles, among which he can count six Wimbledon crowns to surpass Bjorn Borg and Lawrence Doherty's five.

For Roddick, it was a third defeat to the Swiss in finals at the All England Club to follow similar results in 2004 and 2005, and to compound the American's frustration, his nemesis now holds a staggering 19-2 career advantage over him.

The artistry of the Swiss generally trumped the 26-year-old's punch and grit and, in playing in his seventh straight Wimbledon final and record 20th Grand Slam title match, the world number two looked utterly composed.

Both players settled incredibly quickly, finding a good rhythm on serve and looking comfortable in the process, as the first 10 games were rattled through.

Indeed, Roddick did not commit an unforced error until the set was locked at 5-5, despite Federer having sauntered through his service holds in a more serene fashion.

The American was forced to save three break points in his sixth service game, and even had to challenge a line call to save the second, but held his nerve impressively.

Perhaps a touch of complacency set in to Federer's game, as he drilled two erratic forehands wide and long to hand Roddick the crucial break which clinched the first set for the American 7-5, to the crowd's disbelief.

With the second set mimicking the first on the most part, the only game which was not taken with assurance on serve was at 5-5, with Federer double faulting for 30-30, but again he came through unscathed.

Roddick began the second set tie-break with a 143mph ace and, having won 26 out of 31 breakers this season, the American looked invincible as he raced into a 6-2 lead.

The turning point was perhaps an inexplicably mishit backhand volley from the sixth seed, and his four set points slowly and painfully eroded before him as Federer stormed back to clinch the second set with his first opportunity at 8-6.

While Federer proceeded to cruise through his service games at the start of the third set, Roddick was forced to battle valiantly to save a break point at 30-40 in the sixth game, as the Swiss turned the screw.

Roddick showed real resilience in forcing a second tie-break, and this time the roles were reversed as Federer raced into a 5-1 lead, pouncing on two tepid second serves from the American.

The sixth seed clawed his way back into the breaker, and demanded of his opponent that he hold his nerve at 6-5 to serve out for the third set: Federer duly did just that.

Roddick was undeterred by having slipped behind in the match, and broke the Swiss in the fourth game of the fourth set, slamming a backhand down the line to re-exert his authority.

Federer smelt an opportunity after the American had double faulted at 30-30 with a 4-2 lead, but the sixth seed won an epic 21-shot rally with a powerful forehand, and followed it with a booming ace to consolidate his break.

Federer surged into a 0-30 lead with Roddick erring slightly as he served for the fourth set, but the American harried superbly to win an extended rally, and delivered another stunning first serve out wide to take the match into a fifth and final set.

In just the second game of the final set, Roddick continued his unblemished record of saving break points in the match, and rescued a sixth with an emphatic first serve out wide after Federer had won an 18-shot rally with a deft forehand.

Both players refused to compromise on their serves, crunching big deliveries seemingly at will, and Federer unthinkably out-aced his opponent as the final set coasted along through 6-6 and beyond.

With the set locked at 8-8, Roddick found an exquisite backhand passing shot down the line to prompt two set points, but somehow Federer wrestled his way out of trouble in the manner of an escapologist, holding after deuce.

As both players grew wearier, their impeccable standards finally began to wilt, and two overhit backhands from Roddick handed victory to Federer, his record-breaking victor in the most dramatic manner.

Prior to the match Federer stood, in many people's eyes, on the cusp of ending the perennial debate over whether he is the game's greatest ever player. His record now stands alone.
Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

With 15 grand slam titles to his name and a few good years left to play tennis, Is it a foregone conclusion now that Roger Federer, 29, is the greatest tennis player alive and of al time? Let's have your thoughts.

dominique:
i hate him sooooo much fight now. . . and serena too

Don't hate them cos they're hotter than you, they're hotter than you, they gbona feli feli bi amala to jina gan gan,

Drink ye, drink ye. Hey Serena, bring my tray now!!

History!!!

Andy Roddick of U.S, slips and fall while chasing a return from Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men's final match on the Centre Court at Wim - Sunday July 5, 06:14 PM

Tatase:
(Final Random Aside: As for pregnancy does not really suit Federer's wife. Anyway I'm sure she doesn't care, her man won! )

Abi o!

Enh whether its a plate or a tray, is she a waitress. Did she tell them she doesn't like her drinky-drink?? They're just lucky that her plate-tray is finer.

If he was your man nko? You won't mind too now

Roger Federer of Switzerland leaps into the air as he defeater Andy Roddick to win the men's singles championship on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, Su  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Good game, boy. Better luck next year, lol

Tatase:
If I was a feminist I would say it's not fair that the men get a cup and the ladies get a plate. . . That's that the men should drink and be merry and the women should serve the food?!?

Happily I'm not really much of a feminist and I think the plate is less gaudy anyway.

Go sleep jo! Because they didn't give Serena ceramic yesterday? it's tray, not a place, lol. It is used to serve the cup to Federer at the \winner's ball tonight. At least you're guaranteed sweet dreams.

- What a match! Roger Federer has surpassed Pete Sampras's record of Grand Slam victories, and Andy Roddick deserves monumental credit for his part in an epic match!
14-16 -  ROGER FEDERER WINS HIS SIXTH WIMBLEDON AND 15TH GRAND SLAM!!! Two hesitant serves are pounced upon by Federer, who moves swiftly to 0-30 with the American losing his punch and driving a forehand long. Roddick responds again with three huge serves, but is taken to deuce by a Federer backhand. A tired forehand from Roddick gives Federer match point, and the American goes long!


I'm glad I was here!

Tatase:
Ok Roddick tried. . . From now on I'll watch out for him. He'll be like my Serena Williams (i.e. who I support if s/he's not playing Venus/Federer)!

Ok they should snap to it and do the trophys. . .

Tried ko, tired ni. Let federer retire then they can all kill themselves over slams, hehe

Tatase:
15-14 advantage Federer

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tenry:
this game no go end today oooooooo,may be it  will be concluded tomorrow abi?

never! today nah today.

Ace no 50!

What if Roddick wins? Just a thought, lol

Statistic, Federer has shot 49 aces so far in this match!!!!!

whatever!! I cant die again, i die already last year

I said it! we're going to 50-50

i'm tired 13-12