Ht: 6-1 Wt: 167

DOB: November 27, 1978 In: Karvina Czech Republic

First Tennis Memory: “My father, tennis coach in Karvina.”

Inspirations: “My tennis inspiration – I’m taking all my inspiration from somewhere else because I see a lot of great athletes playing well in a higher number of ages. And this is what is inspiring me to do the same in my sport.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Hmm, good question…Thomas Muster. He was playing an exhibition against Slava Dosedel in Czech Republic, in a town where I lived for a few years. And I think I was 12 or 13, I just had to warm him up for the exhibition. And I was badly nervous [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think, singles-wise, my first title, definitely, in Rotterdam (2006). And winning doubles with Leander in Australian Open. Winning Grand Slam is always a memory which stay with me forever.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I got in 2006 to top ten. I had a great year, I felt on top of my game. And I woke up in the morning and I didn’t feel my right hand. I had a dislocated disk in the neck and couldn’t play tennis for six months.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Grand Slam – Australian Open. Super Nine – Indian Wells. The other – Dubai, Basel.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “Because I grew up playing tennis, I love the competition. I love the one to one – it’s like in a boxing arena. The one to one – there is no draw. You win or lose. I like that gamble. That’s the only gamble I do in my life – playing tennis. I don’t do gambling in casinos and stuff. I have a passion for tennis. And it’s the thing I know best in my life, so far.”

Which Match Did You Feel Your Very Best: “I think that was the finals of Rotterdam when I won my first title. There I played really good.”

Strangest Match: “Definitely they happen in the Davis Cup, that’s where all the strange things happen. As I remember it was 2007 in Prague when we played against Switzerland when they had on the team Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. And I played the final match against Wawrinka at two-all and I was two sets to love up. And suddenly on one of my serves, my knee didn’t hold up. I didn’t know what happened and I had to finish that match really injured. And I don’t know how, I don’t know where it came from, but I was able to close out the match in the third set. And the atmosphere and everything that comes with it was just amazing feeling which I will never forget.”

Three Athletes From Other Sports You Like To Watch: “Jaromir Jagr in hockey. Peter Cech in soccer, he’s goalkeeper for Chelsea. And Tiger Woods in golf.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I think Gael Monfils is very funny. I used to watch Yannick Noah in the times before, he was a little funny. Mostly the past generation, they were bringing to the game something special, something where the crowd laughed. They brought up some energy with the umpires. It was more of a show which I like.”

Current Car: “BMW.”

Last Book Read: “Pavel Nedved, soccer player of Czech Republic.”

DOB: n/a In: Wroclaw, Poland

Early Tennis Memory: “When I won my first tournament, when I was six-years-old. It was a little, small tournament, not a big deal. After I won that I wanted to keep playing more, bigger tournaments. That’s how I got into tennis because I just love winning.”

Tennis Inspirations: “It would be Sharapova, Serena and Monica Seles. I just love the style they play. They hit flat and hard, very, very tough mentally and physically. They are my inspirations and they still are.”

Nicknames: “Mar.”

Favorite Movies: “Troy, Shudder Island, Meet The Parents, any movie based on Steven King books.”

Last Book Read: “About a year ago – The Last Symbol by Dan Brown.”

Current Car: “No, never had one. But I’m hoping it’s gonna be a Maserati someday [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Macadamia and white chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment (so far): “This one is hard…right now I’ll say winning the National Indoor because it was totally unexpected and it’s the most recent. And also competing in the junior Grand Slams and winning two WTA $10,000 Futures tournaments (in Poland and Holland).”

Most Painful Moment: “There are a few. But I think having to miss the match in the third round of the Australian Open juniors. I was playing really well but I injured my knee in the second round but I kept playing. I won the match but the doctor said I couldn’t play the third round match. My flight was in a week so I had to watch all the players get to play when I could walk barely. I was wishing I could play.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I remember the match with Ana Ivanovic in Junior Fed Cup. It was a great match, we played in Czech Republic. No one expected me to win. She had two match points but I came back and managed to win. I think she double-faulted on the first match point. It was a very important match, it was the decisive match to qualify for the Fed Cup European Championships final eight. Also Denise Dy who played for the University of Washington. We played three times and each match was about three hours. She’s really tough mentally and physically.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Basketball and swimming. I’m not good in either of them but I really enjoy playing basketball and I follow swimming.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I remember there was a doubles match at Orange Bowl under 18s in Miami, Florida. I played doubles with Nicole Vaidisova. We were supposed to be a decent doubles team – she was really good, tall. I was excited and we were playing first round on center court. We were winning easily, like 6-1, 3-0. Then on a point, I was behind the baseline and the ball was going out but I hit a swing volley and we ended up losing the point. I started to think about it during the match. After that point I froze and we ended up losing the match. We shouldn’t have lost that match. I don’t know what I was thinking to hit that swing volley, I guess I just wanted to play so well, maybe I wanted to impress. She ended up winning the singles.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I think I played my best tennis during the National Indoor. I feel my best when I’m 100% healthy. At National Indoor, from the first round to the final, I felt like it was my tournament. I felt the best.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Rafa, Roger. I used to like Safin a lot, he was very fun to watch and never boring. Because you never knew what his attitude would be. Serena – I like her tennis but she’s moody sometimes. I talked to Sharapova once at the French Open, she seemed nice.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “One was after the match point, I was so exhausted because it was like a three hour match, I forgot what the score was. My opponent was ready to play the next point. Somebody on the side of the court was like, What are you doing? You won the match, get off the court! It was an important match – the European Championships under 14s, so we didn’t have any linespeople. I went back to pick up balls to serve and then I realized that I had won the match [smiles].”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “I think because I love competition and fighting. And I love winning. I love to be the best. By winning matches in tennis is like the best feeling ever. If I lose, I want to play the next tournament. Tennis gives you the opportunity to feel winning and I love it.”

Funniest Players: “I watch a lot of tennis on The Tennis Channel. Sometimes when they show the older matches, I think John McEnroe is pretty funny. I saw Novak Djokovic at some of the junior tournaments when he was 15-16. People thinks he sometimes shows off, the way he plays with the crowd. But that’s the way he is. He’s fun for sure.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. I really admire people who are honest to your face and not faking anything, and are 100% honest. Loyalty. And mental toughness.

DOB: October 16, 1992 In: Annandale, Virginia

Early Tennis Memory: “That would be hitting at my local courts with my mom. I’d go out maybe three times a week; I’d just enjoy hitting the ball. I remember I’d be out there an hour-and-a-half and enjoying whacking the ball around.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Probably Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Just really enjoy watching them compete and how they handle themselves on the court. I think they’re great role models and sportsmen to represent the sport of tennis.”

Nicknames: “Usually Mitch, The Machine, Robo Frank — those are the three.”

Favorite Movies: “Probably Batman: The Dark Knight and Old School.”

Last Book Read: “Right now I’m reading Rafa. I actually like it a lot. Really interesting. I’d recommend it for anyone to read.”

Current Car: “I don’t have a car. My sister and I share a Camry.”

Greatest Sports Moment (so far): “That’s a tough one… probably getting to compete at all four of the majors in juniors. Getting the chance to see what it’s like to experience the highest level of the sport, not only as a junior but from a professional standpoint.”

Most Painful Moment: “I went to the [2010] Australian Open for juniors and lost in the third round 8-6 in the third set, to the guy who ended up winning (Tiago Fernandes of Brazil). To have that 26-hour flight back to think about the match, that was obviously a tough one to drop.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I would say probably Denis Kudla is one, I mean, he’s a really tough competitor. Second I would say…maybe Jack Sock. I think he competes well. I’ve seen him come back from a lot of tough matches.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Definitely football, to watch and play.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I remember being in Mexico [at the 2008 Yucatan World Cup] and I was playing well, I made a good run to the quarterfinal. I played the No. 1 seed in my first-ever night match. And I really got beat easily by this guy in front of like a thousand people. It was quick. It was on TV. It was pretty embarrassing for me. (Who was the opponent?) Guillaume Rufin. He’s 170 [in the world] now. So maybe he was a good player.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I was playing Evan King in the finals in Carson (2009), and we were both playing well. I felt I could not miss a ball. I felt amazing, really enjoyed that match. That’s the one that sticks out in my mind the most.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer, Nadal. I like watching Murray, I think he constructs the game very well. He plays different than everyone else. He really slows the match down. I probably have a little of that in me, so I really enjoy watching him play. (Women’s player?) It probably was Justine Henin. I felt she played a real all-court game, constantly out there fighting for points. I felt she worked really hard to get her success.”

Strangest Match: “I was in Brazil [at the 2009 Banana Bowl]. My first-ever match on red clay. I was down 6-1 5-1 and 40-15 against this Austrian dirtballer [Tristan-Samuel Weissborn]. I came back and found a way to win. That was the strangest match, just to have everything turn like that. (How did you turn it around?) He was crushing me in the stadium. He had two match points. On the first he tried to hit a winner that missed. Then he tried to kind of toy with me and I ended up passing him. I thought, Okay, there’s no way I’m losing, he’s not even locked in here. I ended up playing really solid. Just got like really locked-in mentally and physically, willing to be out there as long as it took.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “I really enjoy the sport itself. It has kind of a mystique to it. I just always enjoy hitting the ball, how the players move and compete. There’s a lot of stuff going on with the players. Yet they’re so focused and tunnel-visioned in on the match.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “In general, I like to see toughness… The willingness to learn. I like people who are willing to experience what’s around them, to see what’s out there. People who try to care and help each other. That’s what we’re here for.”

Scoop Malinowski created the Biofile interview in 1992. He is the author of “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew” which is now available at Amazon.com.

Ht: 5-7 3/4 Wt: 143

DOB: March 30, 1984 In: Brisbane, Australia

Nicknames: Sammy, Samoid.

Tennis Inspirations: “Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like trying to surf – I’m not very good but I enjoy it. I like just hanging out with friends.”

Favorite Movie: “Oh god, probably Love Actually.”

Musical Tastes: “Just kind of rock, pop, Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, all that sort of thing.”

First Job: “Tennis player [laughs].”

First Car: “A Nissan 180SX (red).”

Early Tennis Memory: “Probably just playing down at the park with my brother. And playing the Saturday afternoon fixtures down in Adelaide. It’s like afternoon competition, just teams against each other around the region.”

Favorite Meal: “Probably pasta. (Put anything on it?) Probably varies. Lots of different things [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “A bit nervous. Just getting ready, pumped up, trying to stay calm and not get too nervous.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “A few years ago in New Haven a ball came over the net and then went back over to the other side and hit our opponent before we could hit it. So that was a bit strange, it never happened to me before. That was a bit funny at the time [smiles]. (Who did it hit?) Nicole Pratt.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the U.S. Open. And probably winning mixed doubles at the Australian Open (with Scott Draper in 2005).”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing in the final at the French Open.”

Favorite Tournament: “Australian Open.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Don’t know, can’t remember.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Oh god, probably just the Aussies.”

Funniest Player Encountered: “Francesca Schiavone is pretty funny. She’s a bit of a clown out there.”

Toughest Competitors: “Probably one of the Williams girls. Or Lindsay Davenport.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Roger Federer and Andre Agassi.”

Favorite Vacation: “Anywhere with a beach.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honest, funny and easy going.”

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 176

DOB: May 22, 1987 In: Belgrade, Serbia

Tennis Heroes: “Well, Pete Sampras, he was always my idol. I always liked his game even if I don’t have the same game as he does. I liked his attitude and the way he played. The way he act on the court I like a lot. He was concentrated a lot during all the matches. And he was playing the best tennis on the very important points, during the very important matches. That’s what I liked about Pete Sampras. That’s why he was always my idol. He finished his tennis career – I’m really sorry that I didn’t have a chance to meet him and to play with him. But I hope in the next two years I will have a chance to meet him. And since he finished the tennis, I like a lot Federer’s game and Safin. Safin actually played, not same, but similar game to mine – very aggressive and using all the opportunities. I had the chance to play against Safin in Australian Open and it was a great moment and a great experience, my first appearance on the big center court.”

Tennis Inspirations: “A win. The feeling of winning a match or winning a tournament. The feeling of winning a tennis match is irreplacable.”

Favorite Movies: “Yeah, I’m a movie watcher. I like all kinds of movies, action and thrillers, drama and horror. The favorite one – maybe Pulp Fiction is one of the best.”

Musical Tastes: “I’m a music fan also like everybody. For me, it is also important the company you have. When you are going out, company that’s around you, then you don’t really pay attention to music so much. I like R&B, house music, I don’t like actually Serbian music, our music, so I’m not a big fan of this. So I’m listening to American, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, house. I like all kinds. Also classical sometimes when I need to relax.”

Favorite Meal: “As a tennis player I have to eat a lot because I expend a lot of energy. Mostly during the day I’m eating pasta. So this is one of my favorite meals. But I also like a lot of chicken with mashed potatoes, and some salad. That’s like my favorite [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Well, I like a lot of chocolate. I have to admit that. I like sweets a lot. So I like chocolate ice cream.”

First Tennis Memory: “Yeah sure, I remember I started when I was four. My father owns a restaurant in one mountain in our country. And when I was four they were making three tennis courts in front of my restaurant. And I was helping them to make these courts. And I was interested a lot because no one in my family ever played tennis. My father was a professional skier. My mother was also skiing. And he also played soccer and wallyball, a lot of different sports, but not tennis. So I was the first to start playing tennis when I was four. The first coach, Jelena Gencic, she teach me how to play tennis and how to act on the court. She teach me a lot. This was very important to have a good coach in the period when I was seven years old to eleven. And I was really lucky to have her.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Well, I try not to think too much because I want to be focused for the match. Before the match I do the usual warmup, stretching. I need 30-45 minutes to prepare all my racquets and everything. I’m thinking…mostly I’m speaking with my coach about what tactics we should prepare for this player. Think tactics, strategy, how I should act on the court, what should I use more. These kinds of things. I try not to think too much. I just go out on the court and do my best. I have more motivation to play and to win more Grand Slams – now more than ever, that I know that I can actually, you know, perform equally well on any surface, that I have equal chances on any Grand Slam that I play. So this is something that gives me a lot of desire.”

Early ATP Memories: “I have a few moments that I like. At Wimbledon when I reached the third round in 2005 was really great. In second round I saved five match points from 0-2, I came to 3-2 to win. This was a great moment. And this was really important match for me. Because when I won the match I got to top 100. So this was really nice feeling. And also the fact that I played the first time on the grass. So that’s really nice, I like Wimbledon a lot.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Well, since I started the professional tennis I had great moments, I don’t have exactly the one moment. Winning Wimbledon was my dream. Becoming #1. Winning the Australian Open in 2008 and this year and winning the Davis Cup for Serbia was a very nice moment.”

Most Painful Moment “Well, I cannot say that I really had a painful tennis moment that I wanted to quit tennis or something like that. I hope that I will not have. Probably being injured or not feeling 100% healthy. But I never had any really like painful moments.”

Favorite Tournaments: “I like Australia and Wimbledon a lot. I like the grand slams. And I like to play Belgrade.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I like to watch McEnroe playing. He was really funny on the court. And Safin, when he would throw the racquet when he was really nervous. And it was really fun watching Yannick Noah. I like watching the old matches when I was really a baby. And McEnroe was really funny.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Well, when I lost to one guy from Serbia actually. It was about seven or eight years ago when I was first in Europe. I lost to this guy and it was really embarrassing because everybody expected me to win easily, so.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I’m really in good relationship with everybody. So I’m trying to keep it that way. I’m really good friends with Janko Tipsarevic and the players from my country.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I don’t know. Everybody is funny. I don’t put out one. John McEnroe made me laugh.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Well, all the players are tough to play against, everybody is trying their best to win the match.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Just I like people who have a lot of sense of humor. And who are very honest. I like nice people, like really honest person, who can be good friends of yours. It’s really difficult because every where you go you meet a lot of people and it’s difficult to find your friend. Like real honest friends.”

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 163

DOB: August 22, 1964 In: Vaxjo, Sweden

Tennis Inspiration: “As in person? Just like the game. Just like the game. (No players?) Because I started before Borg. I started without seeing tennis on TV so there couldn’t be any player, you know what I’m saying?”

Hobbies/Interests: “I play golf in the summer. And downhill skiing. And play a little music sometimes.”

Favorite Movie: “The Last Waltz.”

Favorite TV Show: “Same thing, I don’t have any since I didn’t grow up here. Never watch TV anymore.”

Musical Tastes: “Bob Dylan, Dire Straits, two favorites.”

First Tennis Memory: “Is hitting against the wall in a tournament where my two older brothers played when I was about seven or eight.”

First Job: “First job? I don’t have a job [smiles].”

Favorite Meal: “Swedish meatballs and small red potatoes, boiled.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Wow, ice cream flavor, which is nougat flavor they have in Itali – nocciola.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Not thinking about the match really. Five minutes before I’d start thinking about it. I had that for free that I was able to tell after five minutes of the warmup what kind of plan I was gonna have. So not really, I was pretty relaxed before.”

Last Book Read: “Actually, the last one I read was an autobiography of Bob Dylan, the one he wrote himself called Chronicles.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I still hope it’s ahead of me [smiles].”

Most Painful Moment: “I’m sure that’s ahead of me [laughs].”

Favorite Tournaments: “French Open, Australian Open, U.S. Open.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “Yeah, Michael Pernfors and I played here on center court here in ’93. And we started at – I think it’s still the latest match on center court – it finished at 2:50 in the morning. And we were going to the fifth set and were really, really good friends. And he just won the Canadian Open and I just started playing again – I didn’t play for two years. So, but I knew big brother complex even though he’s older, so it gets to two sets all, he runs to the bathroom and he comes back and he’s gonna serve with new balls and he holds up the balls and he says to me, ‘New balls and…new legs.’ And I’m like F you [smiles]. And then we went to the press conference together, after I won 6-4 in the fifth, hysterical, lying next to each other on the table top. He should be pissed. But it’s too hard, too close of a friend.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Not really. I was gonna say sometimes you toss the racquet on the ground and it hits you in the nuts, that’s embarrassing.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “I like watching Federer, I like watching Nadal, Djokovic. And I always like people who grind it out on the clay courts. I love to watch Gasquet play on clay. (WTA?) I liked watching Mauresmo, she was so different from the other girls. She did something with every ball and there’s a thought into every shot. Sometimes it gets pretty thoughtless out there. It’s nice to see you can still win tennis matches, win grand slams without a weapon and just think your way through it. And hit the right shot at the right time. So I did like watching Mauresmo.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Michael Pernfors and Joachim Nystrom.”

Funniest Player Encountered: “Diego Perez from Uruguay. I don’t know if you ever heard of him. Hysterical. Just really funny on the court, really funny off the court. Off the court it’s okay to be funny, he just talks all the time. I said, Listen, Diego – he didn’t have a job – you have to talk the same shit to another person. Keep doing the same thing. Just talk to the right people. Then they’ll give you a job. You can sell anything. But he’s a promoter.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Connors, McEnroe, Becker, I’d say. Because I didn’t play Borg. Actually Edberg. You have to throw Edberg in there too.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “Finals in French Open 1985 against Ivan Lendl. Because I lost the first set 6-3 or something. I was like, Oh wow, here we go again. I had that feeling at the end of the set. Because he had beaten me the last three or four times. I had beaten him earlier but he came back to beat me. And I said, F*** it. I’m gonna start serving and I’m gonna come to the net on everything. Early in the second set. And that’s like unheard of on clay, for me anyway. So I start coming to the net. And I realized in 15 minutes, okay, that was that. Like, it’s over. Because there was no way I could lose the match from now on. Because he was just shocked. Like, what is going on here? So serve and volley and come in. So I won three sets after that. So that was unbelievable. Grand slam final against Ivan Lendl. And I had the feeling I’m gonna lose the match. That’s not the way you feel usually against Lendl but that one I did. And the U.S. Open final happens to be against Lendl too. I think that was a much better match. And I work really hard for that. So those two are the ones. The one in ’85 because I played so shitty getting into the finals and so shitty in the first set. I was so disappointed in the whole tournament even though I was in the finals. And then suddenly ten minutes after, wow, I’m gonna win the French Open. Pretty cool. Then here playing against Ivan. I’ve had so many people come up to me and tell me that final against Lendl in ’85, that’s one of the better finals I’ve seen. I don’t have that often. Because I don’t play perfect tennis. I’ve never felt this good at certain matches, but that’s not really true because when I was playing really well I didn’t really feel well, everything was just going in, you know? Feeling good for me was when you’re not playing that well and you figure out that this is the way I have to play, I have to play around my bad side and still find a way to make him worse as well. That made me feel good, not hitting winners.”

Favorite Vacation: “I’ll take the Caribbean, on the beach.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I like to see somebody that they have an opinion and the guts to say it. And that behaves the same, very level. You can get pissed, you can be sad, you can be crying, you can laugh, whatever, that’s fine. But you still say Good morning to the people that you know and say Thank you to everybody that opens the door for you, blah, blah, blah. So I’m very into manners, respect for every person, not just the better people. The guy in the street, the guy who works at the hotel door. And have an opinion, have the guts to say it and listen to whatever other people think. But don’t just get rolled over just because somebody else thinks it.”

Photo Credit: Henk Abbink.

Favorite Movies: Gladiator, Titanic.

Musical Tastes: “Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Shakira, David Bisbal — Spanish singer I listen to a lot. Mana — Mexican.”

Early Tennis Memory: “Four hours — practice one or two times a week.”

Favorite Meal: “Olives, steak, pasta, fish.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Frosted Flakes in hot chocolate.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Play with incredible motivation. A little bit nervous, but good.”

First Job: “Tennis.”

First Car: “Kia Sportage.”

Current Car: “Kia. Aston Martin DBS.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “The three most important moments in my career probably was first Roland Garros – well maybe the first Davis Cup – first Roland Garros, and first Wimbledon. And later Olympics (2008).”

Most Painful Moment: “I don’t know. When I stay injured three months (stress fracture in left ankle joint in 2004). Missed Monte Carlo, Rome, Hamburg, Paris (Roland Garros), Wimbledon.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I have all the Spanish players. And I have good relations with all players. Carlos Moya. I know him for so long. I know him very well. He’s very sharp. He’s a great person even outside the game of tennis. A great guy. One of the best players in the world. I get along very well with Carlos.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I don’t know.”

Toughest Competitors: “All the players, they is playing good. And I think the best player now is Federer. But all players good.”

Favorite Tournament(s): “I like many of them. I cannot name one.”

Playing perhaps the finest match of his career, a spectacularly precise Andrew Murray pummeled defending Australian Open champ Rafael Nadal for three sets and scored an impressive technical knockout. At 0-3 down in set three, Nadal retired from the contest citing a knee injury.

From the first point this hotly-anticipated night match between the two tennis titans in Rod Laver Arena stunned observers with dazzling shotmaking and furious action. It more than lived up to all expectations. TV commentator Justin Gimelstob said, “this feels like a heavyweight championship fight.” Indeed it may have been.

It was a dramatic duel between two high class champions at contrasting points in their careers. Murray attempting to win his first Grand Slam after two years of frustration and Nadal frantically trying to maintain his status as a kingpin.

The Mighty Spaniard has won six career Slams but came up short in Paris and New York last year. He also missed Wimbledon but did help Spain win the Davis Cup. Against Murray, Nadal appeared threatened, like a man who knew his fate but would fight it till the end. He wore an uneasy expression of ferocious intensity through the first set, often talking to himself and snarling animatedly, sometimes even baring his teeth at Murray, like a wild animal, before service returns.

Nadal was defeated by Murray in Rotterdam a year ago and seemed to sense the crucial importance of trying to subdue Murray now. The big bull of Mallorca was sharp early. He played some miraculous shots and went up a break. But Murray never wavered. The Scot broke back to level the first set at 2-2, but then quickly fell down 0-40 on his next service game.

This was the key point of the battle. Murray utilized his big, new serve and scored three successful serve and volleys to take the pivotal game.  The whole flow of the match changed. Murray knew he just mastered an important test. Nadal felt the urge to force the issue and became more offensive than he typically likes to be.

“Every point is a mini-war out there,” noted Gimelstob. “It’s out of respect for Murray’s game that he’s pushing his game to it’s most aggressive limits.”

While Nadal seemed to portray the role of the feisty warrior, Murray stayed calm and poised throughout this classic duel. Murray’s magnanimous demeanor conjured the image of the experienced hunter/predator, calmly stalking and chasing down his desperate target. Nadal and his Australian Open trophy were the prey to be captured.

After winning the first set 6-3, Murray continued his relentless assault. Nadal engaged in some fantastic toe-to-toe exchanges, but his expression did not carry the same snarl now. The two champions punched it out all the way to a second set tiebreak. Just like in the previous set, Murray asserted his dominance when he needed to and took a 6-1 lead. “Murray, once again, in the big moments, is the aggressor,” noted Gimelstob.

It was evident now: Nadal’s power and intensity were no match for the majesty of Murray on this night. Nadal seemed to know it too. He called for the court doctor at 0-1, 15-all in the third set. Nadal told the doctor that the right knee pain started in the previous set, though there were no clear signs of an injury or limp. After the brief respite, Nadal the warrior decided to enter the fray once again, to try to work his magic and turn the tables as he has so many times in his extraordinary career. There would be one last, desperate surge to save his status as the defending champ and world #2.

But it was not to be. Murray won the next two games and on the way to sit at the changeover at 3-0, Nadal decided to inform his conqueror that he was retiring from the battle. Murray contained his reaction and moments later told interviewer Jim Courier that “Nadal is my favorite player to watch on the tour, the energy he brings to the court.”

Looking like a champion who fully understands that he has unfinished business to take care of on this court, the stoic Murray added, “I got through a few tough moments in the beginning. I played really well tonight.” Next it will be the Croatian Marin Cilic who upset him in New York last September. “He beat me at the U.S. Open. I’m looking for some revenge there,” he said with a smile.

The defending champion is now out of the tournament and there are still two more matches to be contested. But in the psychological aspect of the tournament, where many historic battles are won before the physical, the title might have actually changed hands. In every way, Murray looked like a man who is ready to win his first Grand Slam major win. He handled the pressure and nerves with elegant maturity and pugilistic spirit. It was a performance so impressive that the vanquished former champion would not discredit it in any way.

“Well, I think for sure he has a big chance. I think is a very good chance for him,” the always classy Nadal said. “First thing, he’s playing really well. And second thing, he’s already in semifinals. So (he)is only two matches away. Every Grand Slam is special and every Grand Slam is important to win. For Andy, I think he deserve to win his first Grand Slam, and he gonna do it.”

Photo Credit:  Andy Chung

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Ht: 5-8  Wt: 127

DOB: January 25, 1987  In: Moscow, Russia

First Tennis Memory:  “When I came to the club when I was seven-years-old and I came to one of the bigger clubs in Moscow – Dynamo. It was my first time. My father, he brought me there. We were expecting the coach would group me, like, if she likes me, she will take me – or I go home. And then when I came there I didn’t play tennis at all. I mean, I could hit some balls but it was a little bit strange technique. And coaches gave me some exercises to run, and this kind of stuff. And she said, Okay, I’m gonna take her. And everybody was surprised. And also, all the girls who were in the club, who were my age, already played for one year and everybody was laughing about me. Like, Why did you come here? Because you can’t play tennis. I was like, We will see later [laughs].”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities:  “Well, when I’m back at Moscow, I like to go to theater and be with friends. Also, maybe playing some golf as well. Reading, music and just to do some different stuff, like snowboarding, for example. I like to do something different.”

Nickname:  “Makiri.”

Tennis Inspirations:  “I like to play tennis since I was small and nobody push me. And I like to win the match because the feeling, especially when you beat the top players and when you win the tournament. It’s a feeling you couldn’t compare with others [smiles]. It’s great. I want to practice more and more and to be a better and better player.”

Favorite Movie:  “I like Butterfly Effect.”

Last Book Read:  “Twilight, the four books. I’m on the fourth one.”

Musical Tastes:  “Difficult to say. Like, I don’t like the one singer, I like many different songs. And last time I’m listening to Scorpions, I like those songs.”

Current Car:  “I don’t drive. I have a license but I’m not driving yet [smiles]. Dangerous in Moscow to drive [laughs]. Because of traffic, crazy drivers.”

Favorite Meal:  “Russian food.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  “Vanilla with walnuts.”

Pre-Match Feeling:  “Different things. Sometimes you’re completely not nervous. You have nerves sometimes. But I prefer to have some nerves, because you concentrate more on the game and you’re there from the first point.”

Greatest Sports Moment:  “Yeah I won China Open, first WTA title (d. Groenfeld 63 64 in 2005). And also the junior U.S. Open (2002) when I was under 18, when I was 15 years.”

Most Painful Moment:  “Yeah, losing in the first match in the Grand Slams. It’s always sad when you lose in the first round.”

Closest Tennis Friends:  “Maybe now it’s Sorana Cirstea and Marta Domochowska.”

Funniest Players Encountered:  “Women – nobody funny [laughs].”

Toughest Competitors:  “I don’t like to play with lefties.”

Funny Tennis Memory:  “Maybe in the moment when you’re going for a dropshot, you make it and then you go in the net [laughs]. And you’re losing the point. (When did it happen?) A few times in my career, I couldn’t stop before the net. I’m like, hanging.”

Favorite Players To Watch:  “Everybody [laughs].”

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve.