sky - you may have a point, but as Roger is still technically no. 1 and has been for AGES, I don't know if we can accurately predict whether not being #1 will make him fight. It is possible that the additional pressure of trying to get back there will make him play worse (although that doesn't seem possible at the moment).

Likewise, we don't know what being #1 will do to Rafa. That comes with it's own brand of pressure. The next months will undoubtedly be fascinating.

tenstar - thank you for the nice comments. :)

sisterofnight and others interested in my next blog - I am, as we speak, gathering information for it.

Miss Murray:

There are many comments that demand your attention, but just want to put a final thread to your contention that Roger's form was truly awful against Simon and Ginepri because of the "Wimbledon hangover." In order to understand what's happening with Roger, you would need to know about "the behind the scenes" work that is being done for some athletes. (No, I am NOT referring to drugs...it is something perfectly legal, but outside the realm of normal comprehension.) It is only by understanding this "element" that Roger's decline would seem perfectly normal.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to explain it over the Internet. Suffice it to say that one of the benefits of this "element" is a reduction, sometimes elimination, of perceived emotional distress. Therefore, I stand by my contention that Roger is either little affected, or not at all affected, by the Wimbledon results. He's playing badly for other reasons.

jpbean - I don't much about "outside the realm of normal comprehension". It seems you are privy to something which we are not. But until I learn differently, I cannot dismiss as coincidence that his two strangest losses of the year followed the biggest disappointment of his career.

I absolutly believe Federer is still haunted by Wimbledon, just listen to him in conferences constantly saying he is over it, sounds like someones trying to convince themselves more than anything. We all know Rog can win the Olympics and US, and I too don't think he played badly against Ivo (the guy was serving from a tree), but I just don't think he is in the right place at the mo to do it. I hope so much he proves me wrong and wins the Olympics, but I'm pretty worried about his first round match against Tursonov for starters, let alone a final! I'm also interested in your blog, but I don't really think theres too much scandal to read between these two. If you read between the lines hard enough of course you'd find something. They both seem to have utter respect for each other (esp Rafa for Rog) and you see them laughing at practise etc. Of course Rog is going to be making a few snide remarks at the mo, hes jealous and hes resentful - thats only natural. Anyway, if they didn't, what kind of competitive sportsmen would they be? Personally, I feel the relationship between Djokovic and Federer/Nadal would be more interesting. I really wonder what kind of frostiness goes on there.

kaitepai - I don't think the match against Ivo was dreadful from Roger, but it only wasn't dreadful because the points were so short. As I've said before - Ivo doesn't have the kind of game that will give Roger enough rope to hang himself with. Of course, Ivo still managed to win, which is....surprising.

You misunderstand. I am not saying that I think there is scandal between Roger and Rafa. What I think is that the impression they are cultivating is a...mirage of sorts. I have the first entry nearly finished.

I'm guessing as well that Fed's still affected by his Wim loss. He did say it was his most difficult loss to date. The year hasn't really gone well. He lost at AO, crushingly defeated at FO (with a bagle to top it off), and lost his Wimb crown to the one who's about to snatch his #1 ranking. Which normal human would not be affected (regardless of what he says)? We're past the year's half way mark and he hasn't won a major and the #2 spot is waiting for him. There are probably a combination of other factors as well and I would be interested to know what info jpbean88 has that we clearly don't.

Given Fed's arrogance, I wouldn't normally have thought confidence to be a factor but I wonder now with the combination of losses (and the manner of some of them) if this might change. A little humility from these losses would be nice to see from Fed but I won't be holding my breath!!

I have to disagree with everyone who said Federer is not a good role model..what does he have to do..kiss Rafa's feet for winning Wimbledon?????? I dont buy the crap that he's arrogant either..he's honest..that's it...and you can't blame him for being a bit sulky..no one is perfect here..and you guys too would be sulky or even worse had you been in his place..now about him not staying in the Olympic village-he already has done so twice..the last time he could not control his schedule at all...besides he does visit the village and the other Swiss athletes..now about him bouncing back-I think if anyone deserves to break or atleast equal Pete's record its Roger undoubtedly..and I think he will bounce back..about his recent losses...I think its not the players who gained confidence..its Federer who lost it atleast temporarily...evertime a lower-ranked player beats a top player he always says-'I came in believing I could beat him'. In reality its nothing like that....its just a matter of how a match turns out to be..but i would say after his recent losses that now..Federer's biggest opponent is himself..he has to overcome the part of himself which is burried under the pressure of history..

He looks better now, after the match with Stepanek. Is it too soon to call him a contender again?

If he can continue to play the way he did against Stepnanek he could well win the USO.
Nadal and Djokoivic are both showing signs of strain following the punishing 2008 schedule.

elle: Personally I'd say no. Before this USO, I gave the edge to Fed, because he really wants it and now he's looking good through the rounds (not that I've watched them). But I'm with ed, I think he stands a really chance. The only ones who are a threat to him or will really test him are Djok and Nadal in my view, particularly Nadal because of his improvement on cement this season. But Nadal might be getting drained so collectively, it's looking good for Fed. There are dark horses around like delpo but I don't think it's his yr, plus the experience factor. We'll know soon enough that's for sure.

My gut instinct was always that Nadal would not make it through to the final. Now with 20:20 hindsight it looks increasingly likely that he will fall, if not in the quarters then at the semi. It was sheer willpower that carried him through the Querry match but it will need more than that to bring Del Boy down.