Birthday Boy Roger Federer and Olympic Thoughts

Roger Federer celebrates his 31st birthday today and for the world no. 1 it has certainly been a great year indeed. Despite playing third wheel to the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal show for most of 2011, he was able to come back with a vengeance notching a 76-10 match record and winning 8 titles since his last birthday, a tour's best. Part of that impressive run included a 17-match win streak after last year's US Open which led to his 6th year-end championship, his milestone 800th win last November, and his 7th Wimbledon a few weeks ago (his record 17th Grand Slam title). That Wimbledon win over Andy Murray catapulted him back to the no. 1 ranking over Djokovic and Nadal enabling him to tie the record of weeks spent with the top ranking with Pete Sampras at 286 weeks. Just three days ago, Federer lost to Murray in the gold-medal match at the London Olympics which still meant Federer walked away with his first Olympic singles medal albeit a silver medal.

I was very, very lucky enough to watch Federer at the Olympics this year in London more specifically his second round match with Julien Benneteau and his third round match with Denis Istomin. He won them quite handily and let me just say that the experience to watch Federer at Wimbledon is something I will never ever forget. His semifinal match with Juan Martin Del Potro, which I saw at an outdoor screening in Hyde Park, was incredible with Federer winning 19-17 in the third set. It was the longest Olympic tennis match ever. Was I disappointed to see him lose to Murray in the final? Yes, most definitely, especially as he didn't seem to put up a fight, but considering all he has already accomplished silver feels a lot like gold. And since I'm already talking about the Olympics, quick shout out to Serena Williams who won her first ever singles Olympic gold medal in dominant fashion while also partnering up with sister Venus Williams for their third doubles gold medal. I got to see one of their doubles match at the Olympics and the combination of Serena serving with Venus at net was hilariously intimidating.

But back to the birthday boy, yes, the best years are behind him but he has shown during the past year that fighting and winning doesn't end at 30. At age 31 Federer is as fit and as dangerous as ever. Of course Murray has momentum, Del Potro is almost fully recovered, and Djokovic and Nadal will most likely come back strong at the US Open... but Federer is peerless as he is ageless. Hell, right after his match with Murray at the Olympics, he actually started talking about the Olympics in Rio... Federer would be 34. Sure, why not?

London Olympics

Just a blogging note that I will be going on vacation for the next 10 or so days. I'm heading to the land of Matt Smith, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Dame Maggie Smith, Kate Winslet, Sir Ian McKellen, and most everyone in the Games of Thrones cast. My plans are sadly unformed other than the few days I have tickets to watch some tennis AT THE OLYMPICS. I know. I know. I'm psyched.

Until I come back, happy blogging everyone!

Posts Forthcoming

Seriously need to find the time and/or inspiration to post a few things again. Sadly my TV/film lists are bordering on being very outdated since we're well into the second month of 2010. But in the near future I will post my top 28 films of 2009 and my best of film/TV of the decade as well as further Oscar thoughts and a few other posts on recent TV. Just need to find the time.

Maybe I'll find the time during this holiday weekend. Maybe. Tonight I'll be watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic. My family has this little tradition of watching the opening ceremonies so there's that. This year it's taking place in Vancouver over at our neighbor up north. Whenever someone mentions Canada all I can think of is How I Met Your Mother's resident Canadian character Robin Scherbatsky and of course her pop princess alter-ego Robin Sparkles. Too bad the Olympics are airing on NBC since it would've been just fantastic if CBS could get Robin Sparkles to sing at the ceremonies. Appropriate? Not really, but hey it's my fantasy.

"Let's go to the mall... today!"

Birthday Boy: Roger Federer

Happy Birthday Roger Federer! The world number one tennis player is celebrating his 28th birthday today. And it has been one HELL of a year since his last birthday.

Flashback to August 8, 2008. Federer has just suffered a horrific losses at the French Open and Wimbledon to his archrival and stumbled at the two Master Series events in North America and was a week or two away from losing in number one ranking which he has held for a record 230+ weeks. But on August 8 of last year, he carried the flag for Switzerland at the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony and he was all smiles.

Since that day he has won am Olympic gold medal (in doubles) and three Grand Slams championships including his 5th straight US Open, his first French Open, and his 6th Wimbledon which put him ahead of Pete Sampras' record of Slam titles. He has also regained his number one ranking from his archrival and oh yeah he got married to his long-time girlfriend who also gave birth to twin girls.

God, aren't they all just freaking adorable?!

And here we are, August 8, 2009. His twin girls are barely a few weeks old. His record-breaking and historic summer is still fresh on his mind. He goes into his next few tournaments with no pressure, nothing left to prove, and with the best posse possible. It's sure to be quite a birthday.