Summer Withdrawals! Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal Are Out Of The Canadian Open

novak’s been practicing in marabella. i can’t see him bailing on the canadian masters, but i suppose you never know.

July 19th, 2016 at 4:20 pm

Joker has Toronto all to himself. Teehee.
Another free trophy.

July 19th, 2016 at 4:26 pm

Roger says:
“Toronto is one of my favourite events on the calendar and I am disappointed that I won’t be able to compete in front of the great tennis fans in Canada.”

Federer at Canadian Open in last several years:
2011 – lost in third round to Tsonga
2012 – did not play
2013 – did not play
2014 – lost in final to Tsonga
2015 – did not play
2016 – will not play

Clearly, as Federer said, this is “one of his favorite events on the calendar”…

What a phony statement from a phony guy!

Regardless, his worshipers will find a way to believe their idol is telling the truth and Canadian Open is one of his favorite tournaments despite him not bothering to show up in 4 of last 6 opportunities. LOL.

I wouldn’t trust Federer if he told me his name is Roger, or if he told me he was married to a fat chick… the guy is contrived.

July 19th, 2016 at 7:36 pm

Nole is not too worried about Toronto, Rio etc, he is having good time in Spain, he was at Seal’s concert and Seal acknowledged Nole and dedicated “Kiss From a Rose” to Nole, nice gesture from great Seal:

https://youtu.be/9aL_TGuckns

July 19th, 2016 at 7:36 pm

What a phony statement from a phony guy!
—
Shhh…Truths don’t matter around here.

Praise the Arrogant One..

July 19th, 2016 at 10:39 pm

Good video. Nice to see him and Jelena together. Guess he would be skippping Cincinnati now that he is confirmed for Rogers cup.

July 19th, 2016 at 10:57 pm

CON jealousy tactics at it again. LOL.
There is nothing phony about Feds all time records. He historically has scheduled accordingly.

July 19th, 2016 at 11:20 pm

Should be a catwalk to the final for Djoko with Fedal and the Scot bailing.The last thing these 3 want is to lose to Djoko in Canada and let him build momentum leading up to the USO but he’ll build the momentum with or without them, so…

July 19th, 2016 at 11:34 pm

Lol, Travis. If Federer told you he was married to a fat chick then you should believe him ’cause there’s plenty of blubber around that waist of Mirka’s, 555…

July 19th, 2016 at 11:37 pm

No way Djoko will skip Cincinnati- now way.

July 19th, 2016 at 11:41 pm

Humble Rafa, nice to know there are other people here who see through Federer like I do. I don’t really hate the guy but the guy is such a narcissist and a fake. Not entirely his fault, though, because the media started building him up and made him bigger than he really was and this inflated his ego…

July 19th, 2016 at 11:44 pm

Oh no M!..not again!

July 19th, 2016 at 11:49 pm

Lol Andy Mira, just listening to that nice piece of music you recommended, it’s so peaceful in my shed, thinking sweet, beautiful thoughts about a new No 1…..;)
@calm

July 20th, 2016 at 12:01 am

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jul/16/clive-james-wimbledon-roger-federer-sue-barker-nostalgia

For RZ and other Fed fans.
BTW just follow my example, anyone who fires cheap, sexist shots at players’ partners, well, should simply be ignored ….
#calm

July 20th, 2016 at 12:16 am

@M!..i knew you’ll have a good taste in music!And i knew you’re gonna like it..when i suggested it to you last nite,i imagined you’re gonna sit in your lawn chair and sip your coffee or tea while listening to this wonderful music and your hands ready with bugs spray because for whatever reason,it appeared so suddenly and bzzzzzzzzz noisily near your ear..get it M!

#Bzzzz#Dush!#Kapow!

July 20th, 2016 at 12:23 am

” But both are slated for the Olympics which begin right after Toronto.”

Staff, I don’t know what is your definition of “right after”, but Olympics start week after Toronto final, that is not quite “right after”, but Cincinnati is right after Olympics, then another week break before USO.

Anki, I am pretty sure Nole will play all four, without skipping any of them. His goal for this year was FO and Olympic gold, one is in the bag, if he wins Gold everything else is bonus.

July 20th, 2016 at 12:33 am

Playing Rogers cup, Rio, and Cincy back to back is bad for his chances at US open. Anyway can’t wait to see him back on court.

July 20th, 2016 at 12:55 am

Everything depends on how deep he will go at Olympics, Toronto is good warm up tournament and to give him a rythm, Nole is a rythm player, he needs few tournaments in a row to show his best, he is not pick and choose player.

July 20th, 2016 at 1:02 am

Andymira:
😎🙋💐

July 20th, 2016 at 1:57 am

I don’t think he will, but still would rather Novak win US open than Olympic gold. But then, he has been saying how badly he wants to win the gold medal for his country.

July 20th, 2016 at 2:03 am

Honestly, I do not think Novak is very much affected, that Roger and Rafa will not play in Toronto…I do not consider the 2 the biggest challenge for Nole atm. Other guys from tour could be more difficult opponents than these 2.
But I am really surprised, that Andy will skip the tournament….well, he should know better his priorities.

July 20th, 2016 at 2:04 am

Novak wants an OG, and Andy wants the number 1 ranking, strange that posters assume to know what the players want lol ….

July 20th, 2016 at 2:07 am

Thanks for the Seal song Wogboy, its one of my favorites ;-) ….

July 20th, 2016 at 2:09 am

Willow, I don’t know about Andy, nor do I care, but Nole set his goals at the beginning of the year and said so himself, FO and Olympic Gold were his goals in 2016, so Nole fans aren’t assuming anything, we were told by the man himself, it wasn’t secret.

As for the song, yes, nice one, I like it too.

July 20th, 2016 at 2:27 am

@M 1:57am..unfortunately i can’t comment much from your emoji’s up there since it’s only shown 3 small square box on my pc..but whatever it is,i’m sure you meant well!he he..

July 20th, 2016 at 3:08 am

Am: Sunglasses, waving, flowers, from my garden.

July 20th, 2016 at 3:53 am

Oh!Okay M..hope you enjoy your peaceful time in your shed at the bottom of your garden!Oh i wish i could add you on my FB M so i could send you a bunch of MY EMOJI’S as well and believe me MY EMOJI’S can melt you a thousand times over!Just ask OKie!He he..

July 20th, 2016 at 4:08 am

I may not agree with the tone of some of the above comments but I did get a chuckle with “I wouldn’t trust Federer if he told me his name is Roger” by the incorrigible TB.

Willow: Not sure what Nole may have said, but Andy has stated he’d like to be No. 1. and then with-drew from Canada, dropping 1000 points. Ah well, as they say in Scotland: “There’s nothing funnier than folk”. Despite that, hope he achieves his multiple goals.

July 20th, 2016 at 4:31 am

Oh Sshhhh please TB. What a sourpuss you are!

And why even spend time detailing Roger’s “failures” or losses? Why not his awesome achievements?

Why not concentrate on the positives?

I see you conveniently missed the times he won the tournament. I wonder why?

Grow up TB. Acknowledge the fact that he has succeeded more in life than you could ever dream off.

Stick to the day job TB.

As for our players withdrawing from Toronto, well, hugely disappointing, but they are the ones who know their bodies best and for this, we must respect their decisions.

July 20th, 2016 at 5:57 am

J-Kath, incorrigible, right word to use for a child, I feel.

July 20th, 2016 at 5:57 am

Margot,

Very sweet.

I was sad though to learn of Clive James’ Leukeumia. I read this article over and over, could not believe he has this awful disease.

July 20th, 2016 at 5:59 am

@M…this is another one if you want to head banging and move your feet a little..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iquXllKrxmo

July 20th, 2016 at 6:19 am

Madmax

OK. I’ll agree to disagree re. TB because I personally believe there is a child in all of us.

PS: Re. the comments on Mirza. When a camera focused on her recently, the thought occurred to me that she may be pregnant. If not, then we all put on weight from time to time and lose it often as quickly – (I speak from personal knowledge re. events in my life over the last 7 months).

July 20th, 2016 at 6:30 am

Proof of the true weak era upon us. What a field.

July 20th, 2016 at 7:43 am

J-Kath,

There is the child in all of us, and then there is the childish. Two different things.

I think you are wise enough to differentiate between the two. Perhaps I should have said his immaturity, or her immaturity.

Fact of the matter is, this person spends more time than any of us, researching facts and trivia about Roger Federer. That says a lot. Too much, way too much time on their hands. Most likely in stalker mode.

Insanity reigns. A phrase that comes to mind.

July 20th, 2016 at 8:43 am

Madmax

Your resolve is unyielding. We don’t really want an on-going debate, do you? TB amused me, if that’s childish of me, I don’t care…I’ve been called worse. From your point of view you take umbrage on behalf of RF. You don’t need anybody’s permission to do so.

See U next time.
K

July 20th, 2016 at 9:25 am

Willow, I completely agree. Peoples’ families should be off topic, most especially when you don’t have something nice to say. Very inappropriate. Not sure why Travis is such a hater… Travis, you sound very bitter to me. why can’t you play nice? We all have our favorites. Roger is still mine and I may find things I do not like (at all) in other players, but I try and keep a civil voice in all of this. We are all entitled to our opinions and the funny part is some of you really get in to it with each other. I have visions of what some of you would do to others of you if they could.. the funny thing is…. we comment and get involved… the players… they never see these blogs… and probably could care less. On the other hand, I enjoy reading everyone’s comments and can only come on here on and off during the day as I work and right now I’m at my desk…. sadly, I must get back to it.. travis, please do not annihilate me for being a fed fan

July 20th, 2016 at 12:50 pm

Pamela i didnt retaliate to any of TBs post or Ronns on the stuff regarding Mirka, and id rather not, i get crucified all the time when i do, so i wont go there anymore, id rather just ignore, what i was alluding to was posters assuming to know what the players wanted, or what their specific goals were career wise, but as Wogboy said that Novak had said his goals were the FO, and OG, and as J-Kath said Andy had said his goals were the world number 1 ranking, and thats fine by me as its tennis talk, but personal stuff regarding players or their wives i wont get into, Rafa and Andy are my favorites in that order, but i respect all the players regardless of what some people think, and you can put me down as one of those fans that doesnt think any of the players are perfect even my favorites ….

July 20th, 2016 at 1:21 pm

http://www.hitcentral.eu/british-journal-healthcare-computing/andy-murray-becomes-ambassador-digital-health

July 20th, 2016 at 2:15 pm

1. Beginning of the year, Andy said one day soon, he wants to be in a position to go for the #1 ranking, that Novak can’t keep doing what he did last year (2015) forever.
2. Beginning of the year, Novak stated his goals were the French Open and getting a medal at the Olympics, hopefully gold. In response to questions, he said of course the upcoming Australian Open was important, same with the other two, “obviously the Slams are important” – but the Olympics are one every 4 years. Very rare opportunity.

Sucks the Olympics gives no points this time, but I think players focus on The Games over other things is right. Even over “The Holy Slams!!”.
Other milestones for the Big 4 players are (1)Djokovic getting a Masters Sweep at Cincinnati, (2)Andy or Rafa getting a YEC the 1st time. (3)Federer winning a title of any kind in 2016. (4)Djokovic tying Federer at 6 YECs. (5) Djokovic joining Connors and Federer with year end #1 finishes. (Sampras has six)

July 20th, 2016 at 2:24 pm

One word for Fed worshippers: Chill!

I simply pointed out how fake the guy was and Fed-worshippers come out and attack me personally. Chill guys, I did not say anything to you personally and thus you should not be offended.
I simply noted that if Canadian Open was one’s favourite tournament (or among the favourite tournaments), the one would not skip it 4 times in the last 6 years. Federer statement above is literally a lie and I simply pointed out to it since fake and contrived guys like that should be exposed. Yet, skeezer comes out and calls it a jealousy (WTF?!?), poor madmax who lives her life vicariously through Federer and feels personally attacked whenever something even mildly negative is mentioned about Fed, comes out and attacks me, and even a normal Fed fans like Pamela calls me a hater…
Guys, Federer did lie when saying Canadian Open is one of his most favourite tournaments! It is not, simply because if it is, he would not skip it so often. Look at his truly favourite tournaments like Cincinnati, Basel or Dubai and see how many times he skipped those, compared to Canadian Open… So yup, as I always said, Federer is contrived douchebag, but there is nothing catastrophic about that (nobody dies madmax), and most importantly, there is nothing personal from me to skeezer, madmax or any other Fed-worshippers out there. I am simply stating my opinion, which in this case is supported by facts, and putting it on a tennis forum.

Looks like Humble Bull Rafa was right again when he said above (July 19, 10:39 pm): “Shhh…Truths don’t matter around here.
Praise the Arrogant One..”

Chill guys!
And peace to all of you.

July 20th, 2016 at 2:53 pm

Travis is on the right side on this one. Calling him a trivia stalker (lol, the “research” prolly took him 60 seconds) is almost idiotic.

This “beloved Toronto” BS reminds me of the Simpsons episode with the rock band and the city plastered on the back of the guitar (Hellooooooo Boise).

July 20th, 2016 at 3:06 pm

“the one would not skip it 4 times in the last 6 years.”
That is your opinion, are you sure you can speak for Fed? Who says otherwise but the Man himself?
He also was in the Finals 5 times, winning twice. Looks like, in my opinion, it could be one of his favorites places. You also have withdrawals from Nadal and Murray saying platitudes about this tournament and how great the fans are yada yada yada. It’s all PR man, wake up, chill and smell the roses.
Simply noted.

July 20th, 2016 at 3:10 pm

IMO Federer treats the integrity of the sport very seriously, i doubt he would take the decision lightly, maybe whatever stopped him playing the FO is still bothering him, but im just second guessing here ? ….

July 20th, 2016 at 3:15 pm

That is your opinion, are you sure you can speak for Fed? Who says otherwise but the Man himself?
—
English is not my native language but I know there is no need to have upper case for letters in the middle of a sentence unless the word is God.

#when man became Man

July 20th, 2016 at 6:12 pm

skeezer,

I always feel genuine compassion for Fed worshippers, like one feels for Jonestown victims, especially when I see them standing with their expensive souvenirs waiting for Fed to sign them (after they dished out a small fortune for those seats) only to see him passing them by like they never existed…

That said, examples like this one, when you (grown man) above refer to him as “Man himself” with capital “M”, remind me that my compassion is unwarranted :-) you would drink Man’s bathwater and think it was the finest Moet champagne (endorsed by the Man himself, BTW). It may not be coincidental that you spell your name with small letter (madmax too!!!), yet you spell your Man with capital, even in the middle of a sentence… reverse that trend and show some respect to yourself, your cats will feel it instantly and be more obedient – guaranteed!

Here is the moral of my story in hashtags, pay attention on capitalizations ;-)

#Man Himself
#Man’s Temple
#skeezer
#madmax
#Kool Aid

July 20th, 2016 at 9:21 pm

TB,
The capital was a typo, but whatever you want to believe in order to float your boat and make you feel good about the jealousy for the GOAT, well goody for you.
And if you think fed fans as a whole worship, light candles and pray for their fav(cult) you are the one who is delusional. Or is that what you and WB do in the CON in Sundays?
Wink wink.

July 20th, 2016 at 9:39 pm

Oh… OK then.

It was a typo. In the middle of the sentence. All clear now.

I’ll clarify and summarize with the following axioms:
– Federer says Toronto is one of his favorite tournaments
– Skeezer says his capitalization of “Man himself” describing Federer is a typo
– Travis Bickle says Mirka Federer did not call Stan Wawrinka crybaby (it was some rude woman in the audience, which automatically disqualifies Man’s wife)

July 20th, 2016 at 9:59 pm

And Novak didn’t insult the crowd at Wimbledon…. That is a tit for tat game that can be easily played with your fav… But won’t continue to play that child game with you.
How pitiful and pathetic your argument has become.
Which all started on trashin Fed for pulling out of Rogers…which Nadal and Murray did also with simular statements. Sorry that there now is no competition for Novak.

July 20th, 2016 at 10:12 pm

Skeezer,

Respectfully, compare Federer and Nadal statements above – as always Rafa is genuine and there are no lies in his PR statement (treated well by the tournament and great fans, etc..), Federer bullshits folks by saying Toronto is his favourite tournament.
Rafa is genuine and original (Michelle Obama)
Federer is contrived and fake (Melania Trump)

July 20th, 2016 at 10:19 pm

As far as lighting candles and praying for their idol, regarding skeezer’s sorry attempt of deflecting those rituals to other fans… here are an excerpt from a Fed-worshipper (i.e. 90% of all Fed fans):

“I am a sports fan who loves tennis and more to the point, Roger Federer. Please, don’t expect me to be rational—to apply sane standards to my appraisals. Don’t expect me to be a good sport and accord Rafa or any other opponent his due. I cannot do that. I can only howl like a child for what I want. I will pout, and with others like me (skeezer et al.) – hold a collective breath – do what I can to have an impact. I will be unreasonable and demanding and unshakable in my defense…”

Full text here:
“https://allineedisapicketfence.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/deconstructing-a-roger-federer-fan/

July 20th, 2016 at 10:26 pm

Oh I see,,,,you want to play a game now?
Here ya go..

https://m.reddit.com/r/JehovakWitnesses/

Silly child game.

July 20th, 2016 at 11:07 pm

Skeezer,

More I get to know you, more I realize how lame your attempts to equal Federer cults with other players’ fans are. It’s laughable, actually. Could you really not do any better?

The link you provided is a lame Reddit entry with 9 posts – I could create something like that in 10 minutes…You could also find some idiotic twitter post and say that represent entire fan base… it does’n work that way, skeezer – your examples have to be legit…

For instance, I gave you a legitimate blog by a Fed fanatic who quotes a previously published legit article by another self-admitted Fed worshiper. I can find hundreds more of those, like a 2015 book entitled “Federer and Me: A Story of Obsession”, in which the author (without shame) admits that he suffers from depression, takes the pills andsees a psychoanalyst three times a week for eight years. He claims that Federer acts in his life as a kind of comfort blanket: when Roger wins, the author is happy; when he loses, Roger’s public pain helps salve the author’s private pain
The author (also without shame) admits that Rafa’s 2008 Wimbledon win left him “close to meltdown; I remember at one point writhing around on the floor.” And this is a grown man like you skeezer…

So skeezer, these are real fanatics and their level of fanaticism cannot be compared to any fan base, including Rafa’s and Novak’s. And you’re trying to show some lame reddit entry with 9 posts?!?

Stop your futile fight and denial and admit that you fed fans are by far the worst in your idolatry, like you fellow worshippers I quoted above. At least they’re honest in their admissions ;-0)

July 21st, 2016 at 12:17 am

Must be a slow night in the taxi rank. Let’s hope better business gets those evil little fingers back on the steering wheel.

July 21st, 2016 at 2:08 am

“Must be a slow night in the taxi rank. Let’s hope better business gets those evil little fingers back on the steering wheel.”

Well, reading the comments posted during “European night” I can only conclude, that skeezer enjoyed a free ride ;)

July 21st, 2016 at 2:14 am

Correction: “free of charge” ride, not free ride

July 21st, 2016 at 2:16 am

VP,

Good one, you are really quick off the mark:)
I prefer first version “free ride”…sounds…well, like a free ride;)

July 21st, 2016 at 2:42 am

Haha, WB, then I will take the “free of charge” back ;)
So correction, again :)

July 21st, 2016 at 3:03 am

Compassion for the Fed lovers is not required. He is the FED after all! The greatest, most elegant, $800 haircut player to have played tennis ever!:)

BTW check out this new blog 138mph.com that I discovered. I sure has a different perspective on the game.

July 21st, 2016 at 4:10 am

jo songa cancls canada

July 21st, 2016 at 4:11 am

Who is next, this is the chance for Raonic or younger player to get their first masters, Nole has enough of them:)
Gasquet too pulled out of Rio few days ago.

July 21st, 2016 at 4:24 am

“…$800 haircut..”

That’s nothing, French President hair dresser monthly wage is $15,000, tax payers money, that comes to almost 20 haircuts a month, Roger is puppy compare to him, no?

“SHORT on the sides and thinning on top, French President Francois Hollande’s hair is kept perfectly groomed at a cost of almost 10,000 euros a month…”

July 21st, 2016 at 5:43 am

Do you know what TB, you chill.

I think you were unsure as to who Roger is?

Here is something to remind you.

http://www.wilson.com/en-us/explore/tennis/federer-pro-staff

July 21st, 2016 at 7:22 am

J-Kath.

Thanks for the advice. But really. I don’t need it. And if we are talking about debates, well. You can hold your own at the best of times. So please. Keep your opinions about me, to yourself.

July 21st, 2016 at 7:23 am

Travis Bickle Says:
Oh… OK then.

It was a typo. In the middle of the sentence. All clear now.

I’ll clarify and summarize with the following axioms:
– Federer says Toronto is one of his favorite tournaments
– Skeezer says his capitalization of “Man himself” describing Federer is a typo
– Travis Bickle says Mirka Federer did not call Stan Wawrinka crybaby (it was some rude woman in the audience, which automatically disqualifies Man’s wife)

July 20th, 2016 at 9:59 pm

TB,

I have just realised (pardon me for my slowness), that it is you who is the Fed worshipper! Oh My Goodness. I didn’t click it. So you must be the one who goes to the psyche, what did you say? Every year for the last 8 years.

I think you need to change who you are seeing as they don’t seem to be doing a good job.

I have never seen so my posts about Fed from someone who despises his accomplishments, or should I say, his ‘non-accomplishments’. Is that even a word?

July 21st, 2016 at 7:26 am

Willow Says:
IMO Federer treats the integrity of the sport very seriously, i doubt he would take the decision lightly, maybe whatever stopped him playing the FO is still bothering him, but im just second guessing here ? ….

July 20th, 2016 at 3:15 pm

Willow, can you just imagine? Andy is the first to withdraw, citing recovery of his body, plus he is the defending champion!

Well, that’s okay then!

Then Nadal, citing he is “not ready”. Well, that’s just swell.

Federer, of course, having previously won the tournaments, taking advice from his team, having suffered the most injuries ever in his career, having reached the SF of Wimbledon, playing 2, gruelling 5 setters, one after the other – and blow me down. The trolls come out. TB (who clearly is a bank of knowledge on the fed, despite not even acknowledging this information.

Poor. Very poor.

July 21st, 2016 at 7:30 am

Ahhh.. And right on que, the sheep have come out for the shepard. Must have geen a good service in the CON.
TB,
So one person writes a book. Another copy and re pastes something from Bleacher report, a well known questionable reporting site. I post a link you call questionable, just to show you anyone can create anything to do “something”. Problem is, you actually believe it! Lol.
So by this you categorize several million fans. That speaks volumes about your biased opinion.
You are the one worshipping here., and I still don’t see a mention of lighting candles and praying to a tennis player here despite all the attention you want to give Roger Federer..

Roger, along with other players, withdrew from Canada. Get over it. He’ll play again and you’ll get a chance to see him on the court. Be patient. 👍

July 21st, 2016 at 9:16 am

Travis, I find your above post fascinating. Yes, psychoanalysis is an interesting subject but more often than not it relies much on how a person interprets the subject matter. I have long tried to psychoanalyse what I call the “Fed Cult”, and a few years ago I actually wrote a rather lengthy post describing why I thought so many people worship Federer, and this is more or less what I came up with: Federer essentially represents the aristocratic,imperialistic European man of the past when European man was at the zenith of his power. He represents a time when European man exerted his supremacy over all others with a seemingly effortless flow of power, fluidity and fluency of motion and will, and all others succumbed to him. Although those days of European dominance are long over, Federer, as a Swiss (i.e. the “perfect” European man) still represents the last vestiges of that dominance and of a time that once was- a time when European man was above all others. And now, as times have changed and are ever so changing and European man’s reign as ruler is clearly over, a nostalgia for the days of glory has set in for many Europeans and other whites around the world. And at mostly a subconscious level for Federer fans, this nostalgia grows through Federer. For them, he represents what European man once was but is no more, and to see him fail is agony for them because to see him fail and to see him decline is, for them, representative of the failure and decline of European man as a whole, and it eats at their very souls (although again, it is at a subconscious level that they themselves don’t understand). And that is why the Fed cultists would and will follow Federer to the bitter end. His demise is THEIR demise, so they simply have no choice.

July 21st, 2016 at 9:19 am

And to continue on with the above post somewhat, Federer’s crushing defeat to Rafa at SW19 in ’08 was indeed life-shattering for so many Federer fans. For them to see a tough, gritty Spaniard defeat Roger through sheer force and willpower was their worst nightmare for it showed that sheer WILLPOWER and FEARLESSLY can and will overcome what natural talent Federer had and that was a blow that they have never recovered from. And the rise of “The Machine” Djokovic was yet a further blow- a huge blow at that, for it again showed that Roger’s “supremacy” was really no supremacy at all, and that, again, FEARLESSNESS and WILL could beat Federer.
So yes, Travis, the Federer idolatry runs deep for Federer fans/cultists- deeper than they themselves will ever know, but the hatred that so many of them have towards Rafa and Nole is understandable once one steps back and takes a look at the European elitist mentality (Which is almost entirely of Western European origin) and the ongoing decline of European civilization…

July 21st, 2016 at 9:37 am

Ronn,

Totally agree with your above comments.

July 21st, 2016 at 10:18 am

I experienced this somehow with Steffi Graf…I was a child, when she was active in WTA….did not understand much of tennis, when I watched her play, but I was her “fan” because she was the “perfect blonde German”, the “perfect European” for me. I admit it…

July 21st, 2016 at 10:26 am

Thanks for the link Margot!

July 21st, 2016 at 11:48 am

Ronn,

Interesting theory. Well presented too!
I agree with most of it, except I would replace “European man” with “Anglo-Saxon or Western European man”, because rest of Europeans (Italians, Spaniards, Greeks, many Eastern Europeans) don’t exhibit this nostalgia for “glory days” as you described it.

Nevertheless, it is fascinating for sure. The book I mentioned above is written by an Oxford educated man, who is proud to say that he was having meltdown and writhing down on the floor when Federer loses a tennis match. Like you said, it’s not about tennis match at that point, it has to be something deeper, more pathological …
The best person to explain this would be madmax, since she is the closest to that state of mind on this blog. Perhaps she will indulge us one of these days for a first-hand explanation.

July 21st, 2016 at 1:34 pm

Or perhaps it should not be linked in all the cases to history matters. There was also the cult for Michael Jackson, The Beatles.

July 21st, 2016 at 1:48 pm

VP,

So when you saw that this “perfect blonde German” is starting to be dominated by an “far-from-perfect Serbian” Monica Seles, did you feel sudden flood of hate towards Monica for daring to do so?
I’m sure you didn’t since you were innocent child, but imagine folks who did feel that negative emotion towards Seles for nothing else but having a nerve to stop “perfect European” Stefi!

Next step in their minds is: Seles needs to be stopped somehow. Draws, scheduling, umpires, line judges, media fabrications to disrupt her composure, etc…

What if all that doesn’t work, and the negative emotion still prevails? She has to be stopped by any means! And finally, she was stopped. At the peak of her career and abilities. She could have been the greatest ever. But we will never know. What we know is that Stefi used Monica’s demise to collect major after major and, voila, European blonde German was on top of the world – past glory and nostalgia re-established…

But justice prevails eventually – Serena who is non-blonde, non-European, even non-white, has beaten Stefi’s records and crushed the party.

Djoker is in process of doing something similar to what Serena did and what Monica attempted to do, and if he manages to do it, it will be many bodies “writhing down on floors” in agony all over the world…

July 21st, 2016 at 1:50 pm

well TB, I did not want to see Seles stabbed. I was also shocked by that incident. And I never wanted Seles to dissapear from tennis world. Just gave an example that I was influenced by the geopolitical issue, at that moment. Germany had the good Haribo ;)
With Williams, I just do not like her. But I am not obsessed with Steffis record . Do not have a problem, that she’s black. I like Keys.

July 21st, 2016 at 1:57 pm

I also did not understand at that moment, that there was a battle for Nr1 between Monika and Steffi :)

July 21st, 2016 at 2:08 pm

I know you didn’t want to see Seles stabbed, VP. You don’t seem to be that kind of person.

But imagine (purely hypothetical scenario) how many Fed fans would like to see Rafa (before 2013) or Djoker now be “stopped” from playing tennis…

My guess is the majority of them, even though they would tell you otherwise.
The simple reason is that they project Fed losses into personal agony and preventing personal agony always beats fairness of competition or level playing field. That is why majority of them cheer wildly double faults by Fed opponents, especially Djoker’s DFs. Again, they would never admit it and would say to you that those are few drunk New Yorkers who are not true Fed fans ;-)

July 21st, 2016 at 3:10 pm

Travis,

After Djoko won the UO last year, and he celebrated a bit by walking through the crowd, I have to admit, that I was afraid of that…tbh.

July 21st, 2016 at 3:14 pm

Travis, and the ultimate irony is that a German man stabbed Seles to stop her from dominating the “Perfect” European woman Graf. Were we really surprised when this back stabber received only several months jail time for this brutal attack? It just goes to show just how deep and systemic this European elitist mentality really is.

P.S. And as I mentioned in my first post, my reference to this elitist European mentality essentially is a Western European one. Southern Europeans and Eastern Europeans have, according to these elites, always been the “sick men” of Europe, and have always been considered to be a “lesser” kind of European man…

July 22nd, 2016 at 12:38 am

Yes, Travis, I’ve heard my fair share from more than a few Federer fans who feel that Djoko will get “injured” in the next year or so and be unable to eclipse Federer’s 17-302 but that is as far as they will go. They would be elated if Djoko were somehow “stopped”, but none would dare say that they wish harm on him for it to happen.

July 22nd, 2016 at 12:53 am

Gunter Parche hasn’t spent one single day in jail for stabbing Monika Seles, Günter got off with no punishment (suspended sentence), because he pleaded mental instability. Makes you think if she was from somwhere else instead from Yugoslavia…? It was farcical court case, makes you sick. Judge even compared stabbing as everyday thing in St Pauli suburb (red light district in Hamburg):
_____
In October 1993, a Hamburg judge gave Parche a two-year suspended sentence, saying that the attack was “something that happens every day in St. Pauli,” a Hamburg neighborhood known for prostitution and occasional violence.
_____

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/04/sports/tennis-seles-s-assailant-gets-suspended-sentence.html

July 22nd, 2016 at 12:59 am

If you are to lasy to read nytimes article, this is the last paragraph from the article tha supports Ronn and TB view, I am glad they are both Americans so nobody can accuse them of being subjective:
____
Some commentators suggested that there might have been a racial motive behind the light sentence Parche was given. Although now an American citizen, Seles is a Hungarian from Serb-dominated Yugoslavia, a country whose people have been demonized in some German newspapers. During his trial, Parche said he and most Germans believe that “Serbs are today the worst and most serious danger in Europe.”
_____

July 22nd, 2016 at 1:08 am

skeezer, how you doin’ buddy ? I’ve been eating a lot of gravy lately. What about you ?

July 22nd, 2016 at 2:02 am

“happens every day in St. Pauli,” a Hamburg neighborhood known for prostitution and occasional violence.”
=============
I believe i will remember that, WB, next time I have a St Pauli Girl beer, though its made in Essen or Bremen.. Great beer, but then what German beer isn’t??

July 22nd, 2016 at 2:32 am

CF1,

Altbier is my favorite

July 22nd, 2016 at 3:22 am

“Gunter Parche hasn’t spent one single day in jail for stabbing Monika Seles, Günter got off with no punishment (suspended sentence), because he pleaded mental instability. Makes you think if she was from somwhere else instead from Yugoslavia…? ”

Wog Boy, it was never in the interest of the Western elitists to allow the Southern and Eastern Europeans to feel proud about themselves. It is a pity that, Southern and Eastern Europeans had always to “worship” the West or Russia. Damn politics :)

July 22nd, 2016 at 5:16 am

VP,

Exactly right, their philosophy (ideology) is the same as the communist one “If you are not with us you are against us”.

July 22nd, 2016 at 6:08 am

BTW, Warsteiner was my favorite when I lived in Germany…early 80s, sweet sweet memories;)

July 22nd, 2016 at 6:20 am

Interesting discussion here. I have often thought that if Novak was exactly the same both as a tennis player and human being BUT from a different nationality he would be treated very differently. ie if he was British or American he would be wildly popular and that there definitely is a strong element of subconscious racism in how he is portrayed. But, as I said, I reckon he would be very popular if he was American which doesn’t fit with the European aristo argument.

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:59 am

I think at heart Djokovic is a liberal, a natural entertainer, pushes a 10 on a scale of 1-10 in level of intellectual curiosity, quirky, tree-hugging, do-gooder,deep into alternate therapy, diet, and self improvement.

In short, a person you would think would best come from SoCal, not Serbia. Loves LA.
Why the Indian Wells crowd thinks he is “just awesome”. They ‘get’ him.
If not a natural American, he is a natural Californian.

July 22nd, 2016 at 1:05 pm

https://twitter.com/timesmagazine/status/746388169311031297
We know you’re not invincible. Sam the Querrey beat you at Wimby. Lol

July 22nd, 2016 at 1:40 pm

assia, being that Djoko’s European and white, it’s more ethnocentric than anything else. This idea that the European “Nordic” is superior to everyone else is literally thousands of years old. The “Nordic” bloodline is allegedly its strongest through the European royals, and let’s not forget that all of Europe’s royalty are related to one another.

July 23rd, 2016 at 10:40 pm

CF
A natural Californian!
Great observation.

July 23rd, 2016 at 11:25 pm