[PHNO sports extra: US OPENS HAS RESUMED AFTER TYPHOON IRENE, NEWS REPORT BELOW THIS PAGE; also TIGER WOODS will play the Frys.com Open, OCT 6-9 in California as he tries to get his game ready for the Presidents Cup tour. Full sports news report on this page later]
TENNIS ACE RAFA NADAL CONTEMPLATES MOVING TO GOLF DUE TO CONGENITAL BONE PROBLEM
MADRID, AUGUST 30, 2011 (STAR) By AP – Devastated and "without appetite for life," Rafael Nadal contemplated a move into professional golf after a career-threatening injury sidelined him, the 10-time Grand Slam champion has written in his autobiography.
The Spanish player writes in "Rafa" that doctors discovered a rare foot injury in 2005 that had the potential to sideline him for good, prompting thoughts of a future in golf.
In the book, provided to The Associated Press and to be released in the United States on Tuesday, the 25-year-old Nadal describes his toughest on-court battles with Roger Federer at the 2008 Wimbledon final and subsequent Australian Open.
But his off-court problems play a large part in the former top-ranked player's career. The mental toll of his parents' separation hindered his recovery from injuries in 2009, when pride led him to try to defend his French Open title despite his physical problems.
Still, his lowest point seems to have been when doctors discovered a congenital bone problem in the bridge of his left foot soon after a five-set victory over Ivan Ljubicic in Madrid on his toughest indoor surface.
Nadal said that joy was soon replaced by "a state of deepest gloom."
"(The) diagnosis had initially been like a shot to the head," Nadal writes. "The bone still hurts me. It remains under control, just, but we can never drop our guard."
Nadal wept then just as he did after losing the 2007 Wimbledon final to Federer. But he did not cry on the flight from Melbourne in 2009 when his father Sebastian revealed to the recently crowned Australian Open champion that his parents had separated.
"My attitude was bad. I was depressed, lacking in enthusiasm. (My team) knew something had to give," writes Nadal, with the weight of those problems leading to his only defeat in seven appearances at Roland Garros and his subsequent withdrawal from Wimbledon. "My knees were the immediate reason, but I knew the root cause was my state of mind."
Mental toughness – instilled by coach and uncle Toni – is a key theme, especially in his ability to bounce back, including trying for his first victory in three Wimbledon finals against Federer.
Nadal was "gripped with fear," the warrior figure he'd cultivated had "lost his courage" after failing to clinch victory on several match point opportunities against Federer. Nadal credits moments like these for improving his mental stamina, with one chapter even titled "Fear of Winning."
"What I battle hardest to do in a tennis match is to quiet the voices in my head, to shut everything out of my mind ... should a thought of victory suggest itself, crush it," Nadal writes on the opening page before later adding: "I think I have the capacity to accept difficulties and overcome them that is superior to many of my rivals."
Toni's "cruel to be kind" coaching strategy was key in developing him into the "tennis machine" he is, comparing his uncle to a figure descended from 16th-century conquistador Hernan Cortes with a Spartan philosophy of life uncommon to his home island of Mallorca.
"There was no let up from Toni. No mercy," the second-ranked player writes. "I look back at that teenage Rafael and I am proud of him. He set a benchmark of endurance that has served me as an example and as a reminder ... if you want something badly enough, no sacrifice is too great."
Nadal offers interesting insight into his regimen and his family offers some surprising details about the Manacor native in the 250-page memoir, which was written by John Carlin who authored the book that director Clint Eastwood turned into the film Invictus.
Nadal's mother Ana Maria Parera labels him a "scaredy cat" who sleeps with a light on; an obedient and docile child who became the "family mascot" inside a close-knit family that Carlin describes as "something Sicilian ... without the malice or guns."
Perhaps the strangest revelation is Nadal's dislike of animals, especially dogs: "I doubt their intentions."
Of Federer there is mostly respectful reflections of a rival and friend that he calls "a blessed freak of nature" for his talent.
The closest Nadal comes to criticism is when he says Federer mis-hit a shot "the way an ordinary club player might" while recounting the epic All-England final that delivered the first of his two Wimbledon wins.
Of current top-ranked player Novak Djokovic, who has beaten Nadal in five straight finals this year, there is trepidation of a "formidable opponent" who is "one hell of a player, temperamental but hugely talented."
Venus, Federer prevail on opening night
By Matt Fitzgerald
Monday, August 29, 2011
The last time Roger Federer played on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 16-time major champion was stunned by Novak Djokovic in a five set instant classic, blowing two match points en route to a semifinal loss to the Serbian in 2010.
On Monday evening, the Swiss superstar stepped back on the court where he has hoisted five US Open trophies, defeating Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the second round. "I enjoyed it a lot. I'm happy the US Open is up and running," Federer said in an on court interview afterwards. "I don't think I've ever played my best in the first round but it's important to come through them and come up with a good feeling."
Federer's win wasn't as straightforward as the score-line indicates. The World No. 3 raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set, only to see his double break advantage evaporate after a combination of unforced errors on his end and tenacious play from his Colombian opponent. But Federer's experience powered through, as he claimed the fifth break in 10 games to take the first set in 36 minutes.
The second set saw Federer relinquish break advantages twice at 2-0 and 3-1 before settling down to take control of the match. After having a negative winners-to-unforced errors ratio for the majority of the match, the 30-year-old played a clean third set, finishing the encounter with 36 winners and 35 unforced errors. "It was quite up and down, getting used to the conditions," admitted Federer. "He did well playing on this court for the first time and it was a pleasure playing against him."
The victory gave Federer his 224th win at a Grand Slam event, tying him with Andre Agassi for second all-time; Jimmy Connors holds the record with 233 victories. The Swiss will next take on Dudi Sela. The Israeli battled back from two sets down to beat Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.
Unseeded in New York for the first time in 14 years, two-time US Open champion Venus Williams made a confident start at Flushing Meadows, opening night session action by defeating Vesna Dolonts 6-4, 6-3 to improve to a 13-0 record in first-round matches at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. "It's always nerve-wracking to play the first match after a layoff in a major. It's not really my first choice at all," said Williams.
"I just tried to rely on experience and, I don't know, just tried to get after it. So I was pleased with the level... I think she did well. I thought she was hitting the corners. Definitely kept me on my toes."
Playing just her fourth tournament in 2011 and first match since a fourth-round loss to Tsvetana Pironkova at Wimbledon, Williams was troubled early by Dolonts, going down a break in the fifth game. The Russian's lead was short-lived though, as Williams broke back in the subsequent game to even the set. Leading 5-4 and holding a second set point on Dolonts' serve, the 31-year-old American hit a resounding backhand return to set up an open court volley, which she closed to take the first set in 40 minutes.
Williams made her move early in the second set, breaking Dolonts in the second game. She maintained her advantage by dictating play from the baseline, overmatching Dolonts with imposing serves and penetrating groundstrokes. Williams closed out the victory on her second match point to notch her 54th win on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the most of any player in history, male or female.
The loss ended a hectic day for Dolonts. With Hurricane Irene delaying flights into all New York City airports over the weekend, the Russian was unable to depart Moscow until 4am EST today and arrived on site 12 hours later, giving her four hours to prepare for the clash against Williams.
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