Federer Kembali Nomor Satu

LONDON - Kemenangan di Grand Slam Wimbledon berdampak positif buat Roger Federer. Ya, FedEx berhasil mengukuhkan diri di peringkat teratas peringkat dunia putra. Menggeser posisi Rafael Nadal.

Federer kembali menjadi petenis nomor satu dunia putra, Selasa (7/7/2009), sehari setelah berhasil memenangi Wimbledon dengan menumbangkan Andy Roddick melalui pertarungan lima set yang melelahkan.

"Ini sungguh luar biasa karena ketika Anda kehilangan gelar nomor satu, Anda tidak akan pernah tahu kapan Anda bisa kembali meraihnya. Saya selalu mengatakan lebih mudah bertahan di nomor satu ketimbang meraihnya," jelas Federer.

Prestasi ini sekaligus membuat Federer berhasil membalaskan dendam kepada Nadal. Tahun lalu, petenis asal Spanyol itu berhasil merebut peringkat nomor satu dunia setelah mengalahkan Federer di final Wimbledon.

"Begitu saya menjadi petenis nomor satu, semua terlihat mudah. Saya mampu mengalahkan semua petenis peringkat 10 besar, saya memenangi semua partai final. Jadi, saya berharap dapat melakukannya lagi. Saya senang jadi nomor satu lagi," tegasnya.

Serena Genggam Wimbledon

LONDON - Serena Williams sukses menjadi yang terbaik di turnamen Wimbledon, pada nomor tunggal putri. Serena memastikan gelar usai mengalahkan saudara kandungnya Venus Williams, 7-6, 6-2, di All England Club, Sabtu (4/7/2009).

Pertandingan berjalan relatif sama kuat. Serena tidak memberikan kesempatan sang kakak untuk mendominasi jalannya laga. Venus sempat mendapakan break point pertama dalam pertandingan ini. Forehand panjang dari Serena menggagalkan kesempatan Venus, kedudukan menjadi 4-4.

Serena terus menekan Venus dan melalui dua ace-nya petenis 27 tahun ini memaksa kedudukan menjadi 6-6, hingga akhirnya memasuki tiebreak. Set pertama menjadi milik Serena 7-6 setelah pukulan backhand tidak bisa dibendung Venus.

Serena makin tidak terbendung di set kedua. Venus hanya mampu memberikan perlawana hingga kedudukan 2-2. Venus yang tertekan melakukan double fault membuat kedudukan menjadi 4-2, buat Serena. Pertandingan pun usia setelah pengembalian backhand Venus hanya membentur net.

Ini adalah gelar Wimbledon ketiga bagi Serena. Sebelumnya ia sukses menjadi juara pada tahun 2002 dan 2003.

Federer Cetak Rekor

LONDON - Roger Federer berhasil mewujudkan ambisi untuk mencetak rekor dengan meraih gelar Grand Slam ke-15 dalam karirnya. Prestasi itu dicapai setelah mantan petenis nomor wahid tersebut menyudahi perlawanan sengit Andy Roddick di babak final Wimbledon 2009 dengan skor 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14.

Dalam pertarungan yang melelahkan di All England Club, Senin (6/7/2009), Roddick sempat membuka harapan pada set pertama. Dia berhasil meraih kemenangan 7-5 atas Federer.

Namun, Federer menunjukan kelasnya sebagai petenis terhebat saat ini. Petenis asal Swiss itu berhasil merebut set kedua dan ketiga dengan sekor 7-6 dan 7-6 dari tangan Roddick.

Kendati demikian, Roddick tidak mau menyerah begitu saja. Petenis asal Amerika Serikat itu berhasil memaksa Federer untuk bermain lima set setelah merebut set keempat dengan skor 6-3.

Namun, semua upaya yang dilakukan Roddick untuk menghebtikan Federer akhirnya berakhir juga. Petenis 27 tahun itu sukses menyabet gelar Grand Slam ke-15nya, setelah memenangi set kelima 16-14 dalam waktu 4 jam dan 18 menit.

Dengan demikian, maka Federer menjadi petenis paling banyak dalam sejarah yang berhasil meraih gelar Grand Slam. Dia sukses melewati gelar Grand Slam ke-14 milik legenda AS, Pete Sampras.

French Open 2009: Roger Federer

Federer greatest player in history, says Robin Soderling

Beaten French Open finalist Robin Soderling hailed Roger Federer as the greatest player of all time after the Swiss completed the career Grand Slam and took his majors tally to 14 at Roland Garros.

By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 4:40PM BST 07 Jun 2009

The master: Roger Federer has taken his majors tally to 14 Photo: AFP

Federer claimed a 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 triumph over Soderling to clinch the only major which had eluded him in a glittering career.

The Swede, who beat Rafael Nadal and Nikolay Davydenko en route to the final, said: "I had the two best weeks of my career. Roger is a really worthy winner.

"To me he is the best player in history so he really deserves to win here at the French as well."

When asked whether the second-set tie-break had been the turning point, he replied: "It's tough to say but he played better than me.

"I had a few chances but he came up with some extremely good shots at important moments.

"I'm still happy. I had a great tournament. Roger was too good for me."

Addressing Federer at the presentation ceremony, Soderling added: "You really gave me a lesson on how to play tennis today.

"For me you're the greatest player in history so you really deserved to win this title."

Federer said: "The victory was a huge pressure for me today.

"It's one of the best days of my life. Tennis is just my life."

Safina Tembus Final

Petenis putri nomor satu dunia Dinara Safina, memesan satu tempat di partai final usai mengalahkan wakil Slovakia Dominika Cibulkova dengan straight set 6-3 6-3, pada semifinal Prancis Open 2009, di Philippe Chatrier, Kamis (4/6/2009). Dengan demikian, hasil ini membuat Safina selangkah lagi mendapat gelar grand slam wanita di tahun ini.

Perbedaan kekuatan yang mencolok antara kedua petenis terjadi di pertandingan semifinal tersebut. Safina membutuhkan waktu satu jam 41 menit untuk menumbangkan unggulan ke-20, Cibulkova.

Namun, penampilan penuh determinasi yang ditunjukan Cibulkova, sempat memberikan perlawanan bagi Safina. Sayang, Cibulkova masih harus mengakui ketangguhan lawannya tersebut.

"Ini bukan pertandingan yang mudah. Saya keteteran di awal pertandingan. Saya sedikit terbebani, karena saya harus menang untuk mencapai final. Saya menunggu hingga Cibulkova bermain terbuka, dan saya harus mengubah itu," jelas Safina seusai laga seperti disitat eurosport, Kamis (4/6/2009).

Cibulkova sempat mematahkan beberapa serve Safina dan merebut poin 2-0 di set pertama. Hanya, The Slovak gagal membendung pukulan-pukulan backhand Safina. Perlawanan Cibulkova pun harus selesai 6-3 di set kedua.

Sebagai calon lawannya, Safina akan menantikan pemenang laga semifinal lainnya antara Svetlana Kuznetsova dan wakil Australia Samantha Stosur.

Babolat AeroPro Drive Racquet Review

Is Rafeal Nadal's tennis racquet right for you?

The Weekend Warrior review team took out the Babolat AeroPro Drive Tennis Racquet with it's staff. After hitting for one hour with Rafeal Nadal's racquet and here are their thoughts.

~ The racquet had a generous sweet spot and offered serious pop.

~ The shaft's design has tremendous spin potential.

~Baseline players will love it's pace, spin, and accuracy.

~Doubles players will love it's maneuverability and ability to punch the ball deep with their volleys.

~The racquet gives great boost to your serve by adding spin and pace.

Overall, with the Babolat AeroPro Drive Tennis Racquets combination of large sweet spot and spin friendly design made it suitable for both our Intermediate and Advanced Players. This is a little too much stick for beginners.

New Balance WC 803 Shoes

New Balance WC 803 W Women's Shoes

Much like its predecessor, the WCT 802, the New Balance WC 803 provides excellent support and stability offering current technology with a clean, classic look. Abzorb in the forefoot gives superior cushioning. Players with narrow or wide feet will have no problem fitting this shoe as it is offered in 2A for narrow feet, a D for wide feet, as well as a standard B width. The WC 803 comes with the N-Durance outsole guarantee. Offers out of the box comfort with no break-in required.

Fit: Length fit is true to size. Width fit can be ordered to suit from a narrow 2A width, through a wide D width - this is the wide D width shoe. Arch support fits at a medium height. Upper: A leather upper offers natural comfort and soft feel. A mesh tongue and perforation gives breathability. Superior toe drag protection. Midsole: A molded EVA with standard compression for cushioning and flexibility. Using their Rollbar technology to help minimize rear foot movement. New Balance's top of the line cushioning, Abzorb, is used in the forefoot for ultimate comfort. Outsole: New Balance's N-Durance outsole employs durable carbon rubber to resist court wear. A modified herringbone pattern makes this outsole suitable for multiple surfaces. Features N-Durance outsole guarantee. Weight: 11.8 ounces (size 8.5) Color: White / Blue

New Balance WC 803 W Women's Shoes DPrice: 69.95

Much like its predecessor, the WCT 802, the New Balance WC 803 provides excellent support and stability offering current technology with a clean, classic look. Abzorb in the forefoot gives superior cushioning. Players with narrow or wide feet will have no problem fitting this shoe as it is offered in 2A for narrow feet, a D for wide feet, as well as a standard B width. The WC 803 comes with the N-Durance outsole guarantee. Offers out of the box comfort with no break-in required.

Fit: Length fit is true to size. Width fit can be ordered to suit from a narrow 2A width, through a wide D width - this is the wide D width shoe. Arch support fits at a medium height. Upper: A leather upper offers natural comfort and soft feel. A mesh tongue and perforation gives breathability. Superior toe drag protection. Midsole: A molded EVA with standard compression for cushioning and flexibility. Using their Rollbar technology to help minimize rear foot movement. New Balance's top of the line cushioning, Abzorb, is used in the forefoot for ultimate comfort. Outsole: New Balance's N-Durance outsole employs durable carbon rubber to resist court wear. A modified herringbone pattern makes this outsole suitable for multiple surfaces. Features N-Durance outsole guarantee. Weight: 11.8 ounces (size 8.5) Color: White / Blue