Australian Open 2009

this photo was taken from today's most popular article "Dealing with the hurt" written by Eleanor Preston, http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2009-02-01/200902011233413443968.html

Rafael Nadal of Spain falls to the ground after winning championship point in his men's final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day fourteen.
Photo by: Getty Images

photos were uploaded from the Official Australian Open Website, http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html

the last time i watched Federer in Melbourne was when he won the Australian Open Championship in 2006 over Marcos Baghdatis- he wept in triumph. this time, i missed watching the Oz Open games even in TV as i was too busy worrying about other matters-my health and my mom's latest hospitalisation included. few minutes ago(after finding out that my mom is feeling better although still in the hospital, i wondered what came up of the Oz Open championship and the big fan of Federer i am, i took time to have a look at the website http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html .

i was expectant that Federer made it, and probably would make the record as what Pete Sampras did- or perhaps even more. on the contrary it was Nadal who is proclaimed as" the new king". i felt bad for Federer and i was so touched while reading today's most popular article by Eleanor Preston " Dealing with the hurt" (http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2009-02-01/200902011233413443968.html?promo=hp_toparticles). somehow, like any common mortals dealing with their own losses, he has to deal with the pain of a loss. and somehow, a fresh face on Oz Open( i was thinking it would be a match between Marat Safin and Roger Federer the second time around like they did in 2005) Rafael Nadal would be this year's champion no matter how hard Roger tried to win.

i first saw this Spanish tennis player playing "doubles" in one of the smaller courts in Melbourne five years ago- the same time that i watched how Roger Federer defeated my first love in tennis- Andre Agassi. my Mummy Hen, who practically grew up playing tennis( and was the instant tennis instructor explaining how the scores are gained all throughout the games) must be really good in looking how tennis is excellently played or is pretty much talented in identifying who are the outstanding players or who could be future champions. five years ago, Mummy Hen insisted that we would sit and watch the then not very popular(at least to me) Rafael Nadal. at the time, i was more excited and thrilled finding out which court would (the pretty boy American tennis champion) Andy Roddick play.

five years after watching Nadal play tennis in that smaller court( i can't even remember what court it must have been), he defeated Federer who defeated then the reigning Oz Open king Agassi.

i became unhappy watching the picture of Roger's loss but i turned gleeful watching the picture and reading about Rafael's win. i can still hope that Roger will get the championship trophy again in the next year's open but for now, its Rafael's turn to reign.

and somehow i feel bad as i miss watching Australian Open in Melbourne, i missed watching it on television, and more importantly, i miss Melbourne and the friends i watched Oz open with.