Roger Federer's Ascent to the Top of the Tennis World

----By Agence France-Presse, Updated: Sunday, July 05, 2009 6:27 PM






Roger Federer won a record 15th Grand Slam title on Sunday when he defeated Andy Roddick to win a sixth Wimbledon crown. The Swiss star has now passed Pete Sampras's mark of 14 Grand Slam victories which he equalled when he won the French Open last month:

Roger Federer won a record 15th Grand Slam title on Sunday when he defeated Andy Roddick to win a sixth Wimbledon crown. The Swiss star has now passed Pete Sampras's mark of 14 Grand Slam victories which he equalled when he won the French Open last month:

2003 Wimbledon

bt Mark Philippoussis (AUS) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)

- Federer, 21, wins first Grand Slam title to turn potential into silverware. His victory, five years after winning the junior title, also ended all doubts about his nerve on the big stage.

2004 Australian Open

bt Marat Safin (RUS) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-2

- Federer, who had replaced Juan Carlos Ferrero as the new world number one by reaching the final, celebrated in style by beating Safin, who had been in fine form in Melbourne seeing off Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.

2004 Wimbledon

bt Andy Roddick (USA) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4

- Less than a month after a disappointing third round exit at the French Open, Federer bounces back. Roddick had been a set and a break ahead, but a rain delay helps the Swiss recover his composure.

2004 US Open

bt Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 6-0, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0

- Hewitt, the 2001 champion, came into the final on a 16-match winning streak but Federer was unstoppable, becoming the first man in history to win his first four Grand Slam finals, and the first since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three majors in a year.

2005 Wimbledon

bt Andy Roddick (USA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4

- Federer joins Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg as the only players to win three Wimbledon titles in a row in the Open era. Roddick joked: "Maybe next time I'll just punch him or something."

2005 US Open

bt Andre Agassi (USA) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-1

- Federer wins sixth Grand Slam title and shatters 35-year-old Agassi's dreams of becoming the oldest winner of the title. Ken Rosewall, at 39, had been the previous oldest finalist against Jimmy Connors in 1974.

2006 Australian Open

bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2

- Unseeded Baghdatis, 20, the world number 54 gives Federer a scare when he wins first set and goes a break up in the second. But Federer imposes his authority as a tiring Baghdatis needs treatment on his calf.

2006 Wimbledon

bt Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-0, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (2/7), 6-3

- Just a month after losing to his new rival at the French Open, Federer puts an end to a five-match losing streak against the Spaniard. He also becomes only the third man in the Open era after Bjorn Borg and Sampras to win four Wimbledons in a row.

2006 US Open

bt Andy Roddick (USA) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1

- Federer wins third successive title in New York and becomes first man in the Open era to win three successive Wimbledon and US Open titles in the same years.

2007 Australian Open

bt Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4

- Federer wins 10th Grand Slam title and extends his winning run to 36 matches. Also first man to win a Grand Slam title without dropping a set since Borg at the 1980 French Open.

2007 Wimbledon

bt Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-2

- Federer emulates Borg by winning five straight Wimbledon titles but he was given a huge scare by Nadal in a classic final and a taste of what was to come 12 months later when the Spaniard takes his crown.

2007 US Open

bt Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4

- Federer wins fourth consecutive US Open despite trailing by a break in each. He becomes the first man to win Wimbledon and the US Open for four years in a row, and the first to win four straight US titles since Bill Tilden in 1923.

2008 US Open

bt Andy Murray (GBR) 6-2, 7-5, 6-2

- The Swiss wins 13th Grand Slam crown and fifth consecutive US Open title. He moves one Grand Slam title ahead of Roy Emerson and one behind the record 14 won by Pete Sampras. "I'm not going to stop at 13," says Federer.

2009 French Open

bt Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4

- Federer finally wins the French Open after losing the previous three finals and equals the record 14 Grand Slam wins of Sampras. Not even an intruder who confronted him in the second set and steady rain could derail his charge past Soderling into the history books.

2009 Wimbledon

bt Andy Roddick (USA x6) 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14

- Another Wimbledon epic which featured the longest final set in the history of men's Wimbledon finals. Roddick, whose only loss of serve came in the last game of the decider, was reduced to tears. Sampras hails Federer as the greatest player of all time.

Martyr of Iran's Struggle for Democatic Justice

---Michael Weissenstein and Anna Johnson.

CAIRO (AP) — She lies in the Tehran street with her headscarf half-off, blood pooling around her jeans and white sneakers.

"Don't be afraid, Neda dear, don't be afraid," a white-haired man says desperately in Persian. Another man presses on her chest, trying to keep her alive.

Scarlet blood gushes from her nose and mouth and courses across her pale face. Men and women scream in horror as they realize she is dead or dying.



The death of the woman identified as Neda Agha Soltan was captured on amateur videos and spread around the world in less than 48 hours on YouTube, Facebook, blogs and Twitter. It turned the woman described as a 27-year-old music student into an instant icon of the clash between Iran's cleric-led government and the self-described "green wave" movement that claims hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole his June 12 re-election through fraud.

The seconds-long videos also thwarted government attempts to suppress details surrounding election protests. Rules imposed last week barred independent media from street reporting and turned the people of Iran into an essential source of information on the unrest, documenting it with camera phones and e-mailing the images out to the world.




Caspian Makan, who identified himself as Soltan's boyfriend, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday that she was not a part of any of the groups vying for power.

"She only ever said that she wanted one thing, she wanted democracy and freedom for the people of Iran," Makan told a reporter in the Los Angeles bureau of the AP.

Makan, a 37-year-old photojournalist in Tehran, said he met Soltan several months ago on a trip outside the country, and provided photographs of himself with a woman he identified as Soltan. It was impossible to verify his statements independently because of reporting strictures.

He said he had asked her not to go out for fear she would be arrested or shot.

"But she said that our attendance would be worthwhile even if a bullet hits my heart," he said. "Unfortunately, that is how she died, a bullet hit her heart and her lung, and maybe 5 or 6 minutes later, she died."

At least two recordings of Soltan's death, shot from different angles by what appear to camera phones, began appearing widely online Saturday, the day thousands of protesters defied an order from Iran's supreme leader and marched to demand a new election. Waiting police and pro-government militia launched baton charges, tear gas and water cannons.




One of the amateur videos of Soltan is 40 seconds long, the other only 14. The person who posted the longer one says it was taken on Workers' Avenue in central Tehran.

Protesters outside Iran have made posters of Soltan's bloodied face. Poems, tributes and angry denunciations of Iran's government have multiplied online. In some, she is compared to the lone man standing with shopping bags in his hands in front of a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square.

Videos of Soltan's death have been circulating inside Iran despite official blocking of Web sites including Facebook and jamming of satellite television signals. People have used anti-filtering software to circumvent the controls. Some Iranians have uploaded the footage to their cell phones and used Bluetooth technology to share it.

The bloody imagery could have an important impact on public opinion inside Iran, where the idea of martyrdom resonates deeply among a populace steeped in the stories and imagery of Shiite Islam, a faith founded on the idea of self-sacrifice in the cause of justice.

"She was a real Iranian because she didn't believe that we always have to fight and quarrel and be violent and have death," Makan said. "Iranians, in the past and today, believe that there's only one thing they must fight and that's ignorance."

The deaths of protesters during the 1979 Islamic Revolution fueled a 40-day cycle of mourning marches, and shootings of mourners, that contributed to the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictator, Shah Reza Pahlavi.

Police officials said Saturday that they had ordered officers to restrain their use of force, promising deadlier measures only if protesters returned to the streets. The government media still reported seven deaths of protesters they accused of instigating violence and rioting. It was not clear if Soltan was counted among them.



Acquaintances said she had been shot by a plainclothes member of the pro-government Basij militia, a fiercely loyal cadre that answers to the elite Revolutionary Guard and ultimately to the supreme leader. The Basij have been heavily deployed against supporters of opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and blamed by protesters for much of the worst violence against them.

Persian-language postings on blogs and Twitter feeds used by supporters of the opposition called for a rally Monday at Haft-e-tir Square Tehran in memory of Neda and other "martyrs." About 200 gathered there and were quickly dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and live ammunition, quashing the demonstration and barring any further gathering of people, even in pairs, at the normally busy intersection.

Makan said the Basij denied Soltan a formal funeral and she was hastily buried.

Still, Makan said, "I think the same way that she said each individual can make an impact ... it looks like she had a magical effect on many people in Iran and in other countries."

Associated Press writer Shaya Tayefe Mohajer contributed to this report from Los Angeles. Johnson reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Source: The Associated Press

Jo Jeeta Wahin Sikander - Pakistan, the World T20 Champions

Pakistan have finally done what they have been promising to do for a very long time. Anyone who have followed the Pakistan cricket for any length of time knows them to be a very talented side with great chances of doing really well in major competitions, but who have been continuously letting their fans and admirers down with their unpredictable and erratic performance.

This is very much like career graph of their Knight in Shining Armor for the tournament, Shahid Afridi, whose form and performance has often mirrored that the team.

Some of the reasons that I think why Pakistan won the Cup are as follows:

1) First and the most obvious reason is Shahid Afridi's form and the spectacular return of Abdul Razzak.



2) The inspiring performance of their ballers', especially, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and the fast balling find of the tournament, Mohammad Aamer. In all fairness, it was the ballers' who won them the tournament.

3) The captaincy of Younus Khan and the often overlooked batting and wicketkeeping of Kamran Akmal.

4) Some untimely errors from the more fancied opponents.

5) No weather interruptions which kept Duckworth-Lewis method from impacting the result of the game like it did for England.

6) The early departure of India from the Tournament. After all, it was India who had defeated Pakistan last time, and Pakistan has never beaten India in any world cup fixtures before.

7) The much improved fielding performance from Pakistan, and the visible unity, passion and the enthusiasm to win shown by the Pakistan team, which was not visible for some years. The infighting in the team was nowhere to be seen, maybe brought on by the sense of bonding that was enthused by the trying circumstances in which they entered the tournament.



8) One of the biggest reasons was the massive support that the Pakistan team enjoyed. The supporters acted as a 12th Man on the filed.

To be honest, as far as i am concerned, Pakistan winning the World Cup didn't come as much of a surprise. They were one of the outside favorites from the very beginning after, India, South Africa and Australia.

And Yes! I still consider India to be the best T20 side in the world, and a better all round better Cricket team than Pakistan, but I have to say, Jo Jeeta Wahin Sikander. Well done Pakistan!!!

Water Wastage in Mumbai

One of my learned friend had recently commented that it is quite possible that the next World War may not be fought be over land or religion, it may well me fought over water.

With the alarming decrease in the availability of healthy consumable water and the burgeoning population, which is practically exploding at the seams, the threat of a growing rift between the have-nots and the have-nots will widen, and the possibility of a conformation between them increases everyday.



This situation is even grimmer in India, still predominantly a Third World country where the struggle to survive and eek out a living revolves around the sustenance of water resources, and in this regard, the scenario certainly looks bleak.

In India, the issue of water resources and the importance of its conservation and protection are highlighted aptly by the gross ineptitude of the officials and the disinterest of the officials who are put in charge of water supply and conservation, because of whom, thousands upon thousand of liters of drinking water is just going down the drains.



Even a couple of days back, there was talk of scarcity of water in the small society that in reside in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, which made my whole world go topsy-turvy, after having been promised 24-hour water supply. If this is the case in Mumbai which is comparatively better-off when it comes to sources of drinking water, we could only imagine what the situation would be in the other monsoon and water deprived parts of the nation would be like.

Water Sources of Mumbai:

Mumbai has an abundance of lakes in its vicinity. The Western Ghats trap most of the moisture laden monsoon clouds which feed these lakes. However with the growing population, the current supply levels are still inadequate. Here are the lakes supplying the city its precious liquid.



Lakes near Mumbai

Lake Overflow level in meters

Modak Sagar 163.15
Tansa Lake 128.63
Vihar Lake 80.42
Tulsi Lake 139.17
Upper Vaitarana 603.51
Bhatsa 133.00

But this relative prosperity which is still a long way off from serving the needs of the people and short of what they deserve, has made its so called guardian and custodians its worst enemy by taking it this valuable resource for granted. These officials, and in some extend, the citizens who are apathetic towards this issue, seem to be hell-bent on exploiting this resource to our doom.




Thousand of gallons of water is been wasted in Mumbai and its satellite city of Navi Mumbai everyday. The transportation infrastructure which ferry the water from the lakes to homes are so unscrupulously planned and maintained that they burst and crack at regular intervals.

If the pipes carrying water somehow withstand the gush of water, then some anti-socials elements break open the pipes to exploit the water without much effort due to the lack of regulation and the absence of any penalty for their actions. That is the sad part about all this. When people are dying for the lack of water one part of the city, here we are wasting one of the most precious elements that we have. This disparity between these regions could eventually force many to come to the streets and go violent.

Apart the loss of water, the threat of diseases that could grow to a pandemics arising through the contamination of water caused by the shoddy transport facilities and unguarded water supply routes is also rising. Many cases of ailments due to the consumption of contaminated water have been reported in the city recently.



There are still areas in Mumbai where water availability is still a severe problem, and those who have been living on water transported on tankers through rackets run by various mafia dons who have been extorting money from the unfortunate citizens for the past 15 to 20 years only highlights how privileged and ungrateful we might have become.



We still have time, and all is not lost yet. It is about time that we pull up our socks and decide to take a stand today to secure a better tomorrow. Let's hope, there are enough of us out there who can see what is happening and decide to do something to remedy this minor ailment which could ultimately, if not handled with the requisite prudence, prove lethal.

Give me your views on this!!!!

A Baneful Responsibility

Responsibility is a bane or a blessing in disguise?
Is it a harbinger of salvation or life hardly sufficed?

Does responsibility allow men to show their best?
Or does it prove to their undoing driven by a futile test?

Why responsibility comes easy to some,
While for some it's unnaturally gruesome.

Is it selfish to run away from what you are expected to embrace?
If responsibility doesn’t come naturally, why is it a disgrace?

Why do you feel hollow after an act of absolution?
Why feel bereaved and resemble a mirage of desolation?

Why the paraphernalia of life unwelcoming and bear a deserted look,
Why are the chapters of life meaningless like a discarded book?

Why you wish to unravel the monotonous tempo of disillusioned existence,
Why the achievements and accolades nothing but aids in an unwilling pretense.

Why the threat of obsolescence supersedes that of gratification,
Why everyday you feel closer to resembling an inhumane personification.

The Effects of Night Shift on the Human Body

Working night shifts for a prolonged duration of time can result in various medical conditions which aren’t apparent at the onset. Here's what the Medical experts say.

When you pick up a newspaper or any employment related classified, chances are that most of the jobs in the classified offer either permanent night shifts or rotational shifts. Although these jobs pay well and are an instant draw, youngsters looking to start early and feel the rush of financial independence often neglect the big question. Is their work taking a toll on the most important asset they'll ever own, the body?



The lifestyle dictated by night shift centric job results in many health related ailments. Let's hear from doctors what the causes and effects of these ailments are:-

Dr. Dilipkumar Chandravat, a respected psychiatrist noted that Irregular and unbalanced lifestyle causes multiple psychological problems, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hyperirritability and Anger
• OCD
• Mania and Hypomania

“Irregular and unbalance lifestyle can cause or exaggerate multiple psychological problems. Once you disturb your sleep it can disturb your social, professional and personal life, and impedes your thinking process," expressed Dr. Chandravat.

Our eyes have also been a victim of the haphazard and long hours at work. Dr. K S Gupta, an
Eye Specialist stated that, "Youngsters face a number of issues arising out of irregular and unbalance lifestyle. Some of the common complaints are:

• Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome is caused by long hours of working in front of the computers, and symptoms include, tiredness, watering, redness, aching in eyes.



• Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry Eye Syndrome is caused by long hours of staring at the PC and forgetting to blink for long durations. So, it is very important to make a habit of looking away from the PC at regular intervals and relaxing your eyes.”

"Apart from impacting you from within, this irregular lifestyles brought on by night shifts can also impact your overall personality and appearance," said Dr. Zamurrud, a Consulting Dietitian. Some of the side effects of a haphazard eating routine include:

• Sudden Rise or Fall in Weight
• Constipation
• Ulcers
• Acidity and Heartburn
• Headaches

"No exercise and unhealthy food may also lead to side effects like hernia as well,” she added.



Dr. Nimish Mehta, a Skin Specialist expressed, ''The current generation is ignorant about their health. They indulge in improper diet, don’t get proper sleep and ignore the importance of water intake and exercise which causes various skin abnormalities."

Some of the effects arising from the undisciplined lifestyle of night shifts are:

• Acne
• Hair fall
• Pimples

"It could even cause skin disorders like Eczema and Psoriasis which is aggregated by improper lifestyle,” added Dr. Mehta.

The affect on teeth is often overlooked when talking about nightshifts and irregular lifestyle.

Dr. Geeta Naik, an expert in dental care highlighted, “Owing to their current lifestyle, today's youngsters indulge in soft drink, eat junk food, and smoke unchecked, which takes a toll on their teeth. Due to which they suffer from gum disorders. Late night sleep or lack of sleep can increase cavity as many don’t brush before bed.”

Some common conditions seen with night shift workers are:

• Tooth Fall and Gingivitis
• Tooth decay, Plaque and Cavities
• Discoloration
• Bad Breath

Although men and women face the same problems, there are some effects which women specific conditions that we see, especially relating to pregnancy.

"Lack of proper sleep, work load and job related pressures can result in complication in conceiving a baby. They could even have a premature baby or a child may be weak boned. They could also face bleeding, fluctuation in blood pressure, backaches and leg pain. Pregnant woman needs at least eight hours sleep which they don’t, which increases the chances of abortion,” highlighted Dr. Sunita Prasad, a Gynecologist.

Dr. Agrawal, an ENT Specialist of Pikale hospital in Mahim put forth some lesser known ailments effecting night shift employees, including:

• Sleep disturbance
• Vocal Fatigue/Hoarseness
• Soreness and Tenderness of Pinna (Over use of headphone)
• Ear Infections

Some quick fixes to these ailments include:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Taking periodic rest
• Avoiding Tobacco and Caffeine
• Using separate set of headphones

Additional References: The Economic Time

Business-Standard

The Fame and Shame of English Cricket

Over the years, I have found myself supporting the England Cricket team more often that not. (When not playing India of course). But, they have always seemed to under perform and astonishingly disappointing when you suspect it the least. Just like the English summer I guess, which always flatters to deceive.

Couldn't put my finger on what is wrong with English cricket. They aren’t strapped for money. They have a descent domestic setup. Have enough good players, at least from what I have seen. Have one of the best supporters in the world, easily better than Australia. Why not, they have the 'Barmy Army'.



Best all rounder in the world, arguably the most easily recognizable grounds in the world, not to mention KP, (Kevin Pietersen). Best umpires in the world, until recently. They gave us the 20/20, which could ultimately save cricket in many counties and could turnout to be the linchpin around which cricket will thrive in many more.



Is it the lack of motivation, stupendous rise in the popularity of football and rugby, or could it be, dare I say it, their preoccupation with the Ashes. There, I said it.

Have they been so preoccupied with winning the Ashes and beating the Aussies that they don't care of World Cups and other test campaigns and tournaments?

Are they so financially secure domestically that they don't push themselves hard enough to be the best that they can be, and beat the best, consistently, so they can get into the national team like the players have to in the subcontinent to be financially secure.



Or, is there just too much pressure on the players to perform and deliver over and over again in International cricket that they just crumble under the huge pressure and chose to be content with playing domestic cricket?



If someone has any answer to this, please be kind enough to lift the Enigma that is the England Cricket team.

Although I want the English team to trounce the Aussies, looking at the recent performance of the team, my mind says otherwise. But you can be rest assured, I'll be watching, as always.

Players and Teams Waiting to be Discovered

For those of you who likes to keep a tab on the best teams and players outside the test and ODI arena, this is worth a read.

Blasphemous Worship

Let's ask ourselves the reasons we work,
The reason why life seems nullified and stuck.

Why everything is secondary while it commands parity,
Why life seems less important and seemingly belies sanity.

Why do we work ourselves to oblivion of nothingness?
While life flashes by and resembles discontented trivialness.

Why you force yourself into a routine of pain,
And this pain slowly becomes a part naturally engrained.

Why you can't appreciate the beauty and pleasure life has to offer,
And confine yourself to the realm of a self-deprecating coffer.

Why can't you escape it clutches of relentless pursuit,
And why follow a string that tugs and pulls you on cue.

Why follow a master who plagiarizes your triumph,
Why chase the vagaries of a perjuring truth.

Why the means of life is cascading towards your road to doom,
Why doom, when it comes, resembles as if heaven loom.

I don’t know the answer maybe your are the unforeseen herald,
And bring in the news that allows us to finally celebrate and revel!!!!

Life or Treason

Life does seem to be in vain when:---------------------------------

Festivities brings despair and grief,
Companionship brings only temporary relief.

When love seems a chore in pain,
Every reason seems an exercise in vain.

When every laugh resembles a luxury,
And joy becomes a reason for perjury.

When motivation is a distant realm,
And frustration hovers at the helm.

When office is more cherishing than god's name,
And loneliness is more rewarding than any price or fame.

When you seem older everyday and couldn’t care less,
And every healing touch and concern seems worthless.

When every act of compassion resembles pitiful charity,
And your daily archaic lifestyle only brings anger and anxiety.

When your daily ambition is aimed at achieving sobriety,
And the moment you emerge seems reality too feisty.

When a dream seems so real you want nothing else,
And when death promises more and life emancipates hell.