Sports time!

That should read Tennis time, but oh well.

After a unique yet unimportant exhibition featuring an inbred clay and grass court, Raphael Nadal, the world's #2 ranked tennis player, defeated Roger Federer, the world's #1 ranked tennis player, in three sets. Of course, every tennis pundit is quick to declaim the relevance of this 'exhibition' match, and to some degree exhibitions are just that; a forum for players to show off their skills in a non-threatening environment. But after three loses already this season (two to Canas and one to Nadal), and a string of losses to world # 2, Federer could have used this 'false' sense of confidence as much as anyone, and he played as if he wanted to win it as much as Nadal did. Why else would the third set tie-breaker reach 10 points? If the match wasn't an important bragging rights tool, why the exertion at all in the second set for Federer (which he won) after losing in the first??

Nadal himself, 20 years of age with 20 titles, is already far ahead of Federer's pace at the same age. It wasn't until 23 that Federer broke through with his first major win, but that fact may also be his saving grace as he begins the trek down the other side of his peak. At 26 years of age, Federer is approaching that time when tennis champions, no matter the ilk or nature of their dominance, begin their slow but steady descention into tennis obscurity; for in tennis, as in every other form of modern entertainment today, significance is given only to those who win, now. Past greats are fondly recalled during rain delays of otherwise tension filled slam tournaments, filling otherwise useless hours with former glory captured forever on film. Sure, it would be folly to condemn Federer, already the owner of 10 grand slam titles, to the has-been table, but the invitation's already been sent. He's only to RSVP. Does he have more slams in him? Absolutely, and to give him credit, he will probably break Sampras' standing record of 14 slams by one or two. He is currently King of Grass.

However, Raphael Nadal, at only 20, can look forward to at least five more years of dominance despite his taxing style of play. While running down every ball now is the bulk of his game-plan, a game-plan that has granted the youngster two consecutive Roland Garros titles as well as a Wimbledon final, Nadal has to realize that he will eventually have to economize his game if only for his own continuity. And he has been doing just that; another win at Indian Wells in California, a semi-fast hardcourt which he's mastered twice before showcased how hard the Spaniard has been working on the less than stellar parts of his game. His serve is much amped, and he's starting to own the placement. And his backhand, always a weapon on clay, has now become a cleaver on hardcourts as well, and should he gain in confidence from a third Rolland Garros title (he's already well on his way with the Monte Carlo title and he's playing Barcelona this week where he's dispatched Federer in doubles), a win at Wimbledon cannot be counted out. Stay tuned...