Weekly Update - Australian Open

Melbourne, Saturday, January 18th - If there such things as nuances which describe a scenario in tennis, fashion statements and five setters will be the highlights of this Australian Open. Baby blue was the fashion colour of the season in Australia, with hotties like Ana Ivanovic, Nicole Vaidisova and Maria Kirilenko matching the newly designed AO surface. With colours and emotions flying high for the seeds, the deserving underdogs have been gifted this week from support from record Grand Slam Australian crowds supporting the lesser ranked and the more spirited. Such was the week for Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzales, Andy Murray, and worth mentioning, Marat Safin.

Lets start with the best. Roger Federer had lost a total of 6 games in the two opening round matches against Hartfield and Santoro. Which would mean that the lesser known Serbian Janko Tipsarevic

Australian Open 2008 Preview

MELBOURNE, Australia - Whether the Swiss reign continues or not, much of this Australian Open will decide what will happen of the King of Basel. Roger "King" Federer will be aiming for his 3rd straight Australian Open, 4th in all. Also in potential danger will be a grand slam and a grand slam record, which is exactly why, the Australian Open is essential for him. If he rolls over his opponents, the way he did last year, chances are this year, he sense of blood on the red soil will heighten. Also in potential danger is Pete Sampras' grand slam career record of 14. Federer is sitting at 12, and with more than fighting chances of overcoming that in 2008.

Although lately, Federer's rivals have been surprise ones, one name that will constantly haunt Federer Fans will be the Spanish Bull - Rafael Nadal. Though yet to prove his worth on hard surface, Rafa is belligerent, he is persistent, and with piercing top spin on both sides of play, he has given Fedex enough to ponder. Last year's Wimbledon Final was a fine example. To be fair to Rafa, he owned Federer in 3 sets. But like all of his opponents, Rafa choked under Federer's resilience and consistency under pressure. Major factors which will decide the fate of a possible confrontation of the two titans are Is Nadal fit enough ? how well will he attack ? how well Federer defends ? and can Nadal push the envelope ?

Another player worth mentioning would be a surprise/shock to some of you. Marat Safin. Yes, I said it !!! Not Djokovic, not Nalbandian, no way Andy Roddick, not Davedenko, but the player who "can " seriously threaten the Swiss Reign in the tall, moody, angry Russian. The reason I emphasize on "can" is because of reasons more obvious than obvious. He is 28, with moodswings worse than Jack Nicholson in "The Shining". Most of his fans that want him to win grand slams dont exactly believe that he can. Having said that, he is the last person that Federer lost to in Melbourne, which I thought, was one of the best tennis Ive seen. Safin has a complete game (when he doesnt forget to bring it), and with Federer and Safin are in the same side of the draw, there's a possible shoowdown to die for in the semis.

All in all, the coming few weeks will decide whether the Swiss tradition will break, will the Spanish Bull rip through, or run outta gas ?? will the russians show their mettle in crunch matches, or will like always, Davydenko, Safin and co. choke under the Melbourne Sun ?? Updates soon, keep swinging

Zoheb Qureshi.

The Other Sense

A Street of hell cowardly shy's,
From this place where darkness lies,
Nightmarish thougths of memory so tortuous,
that at its own face, fate cries.
The old bootlegger in the garden picks,
The bones of those from river Styx,
Gathers as he may the thoughts within,
looks upon the days of gold 'n gin,
Long before the darkness in his chest,
consumed his heart, and nerve bereft.
She said "Thou shall be damned rest you give your soul,
to the mistresses of this place untold,"
So he rest his soul in her palms that may be,
the pluckings of an innocent life's solitary tree.

For all that love is in eternity, he thought,
a drop of tear in an ocean of fire,
peace in death and sanity was all he sought,
what burned him was his own desire.
For while in life's golden arms,
thy were a prince, a warrior, a god for some,
invincible, immortal, a shadow of gold,
lest he knew what would end his immortal run,
not power, an arrow, a heel, and a beautiful soul.
For not always were the heavens so quiet,
not always did the rains corrode,
His memory held one end in a well so pious,
But his thirst quenched never by his will abode.

"My silence is all I hear now,
deafening my senses with voices of past,
Of the times of war, and the times with you,
Eternity was the only end I knew,
My silence is my song for you."

"Darkness is all I see now,
shadowing the light of memories within,
memories so bright, memories that were you,
I lived a dark lie, And I died one too,
my darkness is my reflection for you"

"mercy is what the gods gather for me,
mercy - chants for me the world full of sin,
mercy shall be granted to those who ask,
but can mercy commit to my demon within."

ZOHEB QURESHI
October 2nd, 2006.