Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Roland Garros 2016 - 8 best men's matchups you wouldn't want to miss

Million dollar question : Will Novak Djokovic finally achieve the career grand slam?
(picture credit : www.telegraph.co.uk)


Roland Garros 2016 is finally here and the big talk is whether the likes of Nadal, Murray and Stan can stop the world number 1 Novak Djokovic from achieving a career grand slam. As far as the draw is concerned, Djokovic has a fairly easy path, but in the semis, he might have to face possibly the biggest obstacle in the form of Rafael Nadal, the 9-time champion here. For that to happen though, Nadal himself might have to conquer some though opponents in earlier rounds like Fognini and Thiem. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka also have decent draws for the first few rounds but things might won't be easy for either of them coming into the second week. With inform players like Nishikori, Thiem and Goffin looking ready to make a deep run into the tournament, up and coming talents like Kyrgios and Zverev holds enough fire power to inflict some significant damage in the next two weeks. All in all, it promises to be a historic Roland Garros with some classic duels in store. Here are my picks for the 8 best matches to look forward to (if the draw plays out like I imagine it will), and predictions.


8.  [3] STAN WAWRINKA VS [16] GILES SIMON  -  4TH ROUND

HEAD TO HEAD :                    5 - 2

HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  4 - 0
PREVIOUS MEETING : MONTE CARLO 2016 - ROUND OF 16 - WAWRINKA : 6-1, 6-2

Wawrinka will have a tough test here against the man who took Djokovic to 5 sets in the 2016 Australian Open. Simon is a gritty customer, and Stan will have play his near-best tennis to dispatch this guy. I think he will though, but not before Simon takes a set off him.

PREDICTION : WAWRINKA 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(6)


7.  [6] JO-WILFRIED TSONGA VS [12] DAVID GOFFIN - 4TH ROUND

HEAD TO HEAD :                    3 - 2

HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  1 - 1
PREVIOUS MEETING : ROME 2015 - ROUND OF 32 - GOFFIN : 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

Goffin has looked very good this season, but last year's semi finalist Tsonga, will come out all guns blazing infront of his home crowd. The outcome of this match is more about how well Tsonga plays, but I feel the Frenchman progresses in 4 sets.

PREDICTION : TSONGA 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5


6.  [9] RICHARD GASQUET VS [17] NICK KYRGIOS - 3RD ROUND



Nick Kyrgios might do some real damage this time around
(www.newsapi.com)


HEAD TO HEAD :                    4 - 2
HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  2 - 0
PREVIOUS MEETING : MARSEILLE 2016 - QUARTER FINAL
 - KYRGIOS : 6-0, 6-4

Expect this one to be a highlight package. The veteran Frenchman, Gasquet, would have a clear favourite 6 months ago, but Kyrgios is slowly converting his talent to results. The 21 year old Australian is ready to take out at least one big name in this tournament, and I feel it is going to be Gasquet.

PREDICTION : KYRGIOS 6-7(9), 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4


5.  [4] RAFAEL NADAL VS [13] DOMINIC THIEM - 4TH ROUND



Dominic Thiem will have his task cut out against Nadal
(www.ubitennis.net)

HEAD TO HEAD :                    2 - 1
HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  2 - 1
PREVIOUS MEETING : 
MONTE CARLO 2016 - ROUND OF 16 - NADAL : 7-5, 6-3

Inspite of the fact that Thiem beat Nadal on clay recently and has been improving tremendously over the past year or so, this is a different Nadal he will face this time, who is playing very close to his best. Secondly, it is Roland Garros, Nadal's own backyard. He plays like a beast here and only the best can come close to challenging him I feel this match will be anticlimatic and Nadal will crush Thiem's hopes in straight sets.

PREDICTION : NADAL 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (3)


4.  [3] STAN WAWRINKA VS [8] MILOS RAONIC - QUARTER FINALS



Defending champion Stan Wawrinka will have to overcome 
some tricky opponents during the course of this tournament
(www.gannett-cdn.com)

HEAD TO HEAD :                    4 - 1
HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  1 - 0
PREVIOUS MEETING : 
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2016 - ROUND OF 16 - RAONIC : 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3

I like the way how Raonic has got his stride back after an injury plagued 2015. Raonic is definitely more consistent of the two, and his big serve and big hitting is enough to trouble most opponents, even Stan. But we are talking about the quarter finals here, and during the latter stages of the tournament, Stan is as dangerous as anybody on tour. He can blow away anybody once the Stanimal is unleashed. Raonic will hit back harder for the most part but eventually succumb in 5 sets.


PREDICTION : WAWRINKA 7-5, 3-6, 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-3


3.  [5] KEI NISHIKORI VS [17] NICK KYRGIOS - 4TH ROUND

HEAD TO HEAD :                    3 - 0
HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  1 - 0
PREVIOUS MEETING : 
MADRID 2016 - QUARTER FINAL - NISHIKORI : 6-7(6), 7-6(1), 6-3
Nishikori is the clear favourite in this one, but if Kyrgios plays at his best, he can give Kei a run for his money. Nonetheless, it is for sure, going to be a great exhibition of tennis. Kei will come through this one, but it will be a match to be remembered.

PREDICTION : NISHIKORI 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-1, 6-4


2.  [2] ANDY MURRAY VS [5] KEI NISHIKORI - QUARTER FINAL



Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori are both serious title contenders
(www.skysports.com)

HEAD TO HEAD :                    6 - 1
HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  1 - 0
PREVIOUS MEETING : 
DAVIS CUP 2016 - WORLD GROUP - MURRAY : 7-5, 7-6(6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3
This is going to be an epic-hands down! These two are both in form players and they will not back down till the very end. Not missing this one for the world! This is a very tough one to predict but I'll take my chances here and say Nishikori wins it in 5.

PREDICTION : NISHIKORI 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5, 3-6, 9-7


1.  [1] NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS [4] RAFAEL NADAL


Their 50th meeting will be no less historic
(www.dailymail.co.uk)

HEAD TO HEAD :                    26 - 23
HEAD TO HEAD (ON CLAY) :  7 - 14
PREVIOUS MEETING : 
DAVIS CUP 2016 - WORLD GROUP - MURRAY : 7-5, 7-6(6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3
This is the one everyone is waiting for. Yes, Novak has dominated Rafa for the last two years, but if the last couple of months have been any indication, Rafa is ready to take on Novak more than ever. He looks more confident, more eager, every time he steps on court and he will not give up this one easily. Get ready for long brutal rallies and crazy points throughout the match. I will play safe on this one and say Novak, but deep down I know, Nadal has more than a realistic chance to clinch this one.

PREDICTION : DJOKOVIC 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(11), 7-6(7)


HONOURABLE MENTIONS

THE FINAL
I have no idea who will make the final, and that is why I did not include it in the list. Will it be Djokovic vs Murray or Nadal vs Wawrinka, Djokovic vs Wawrinka or Nadal vs Nishikori... Too many variables!

THE OTHER SEMI FINAL
Again too many variables, but I think it will be two between Wawrinka, Murray, Nishikori and Raonic. Let's see how right I am. But be it any two, it is going to be a cracking contest.

Watch out also for

[3] STAN WAWRINKA VS [16] GILES SIMON - 4TH ROUND

[11] DAVID FERRER VS [21] FELICIANO LOPEZ - 3RD ROUND

BORNA CORIC VS TAYLOR FRITZ - 1ST ROUND 

Sunday, 8 May 2016

Travel diaries : Bandaje falls trek


A year in Bangalore, and the most I had seen of this part of the country was Cubbon park and Forum mall. I am not used to being so static for so long, so I had to get away. Somewhere.. Anywhere. Thankfully, some of my colleagues were up for it too and at 5 AM in the morning on the 9th of April'16, 5 of us just set out in a car to the Bandaje falls .

As we were planning to camp for the night at the hill top, we had to equip ourselves with a couple of tents, flashlights, match box, kerosene (for the fire), warm clothes for the night, and spare clothes for the next day. We bought some pineapples and bananas on the way for the night. And of course, a lot of water.

We kept making stops every couple of hours for some snacks or tea. One of the stops was at Gundya, a beautiful spot next to a stream. We were so much at peace there that we spent about half an hour just sitting next to the stream, admiring the beauty around.








We stopped for lunch at around 12:30 PM. It was a dilemma whether to eat a lot or not, because we had a trek ahead of us, yet this was the last proper meal we were to have till we descend the next day. Considering the ascent comes before dinner or the next day's descent, we did not stuff ourselves, and headed out for the final 25 kms of our car-journey.  We reached a dead end and parked our car there. We collected all our luggage from the car and at around 1:30 PM, we officially started our trek.


THE TREK



We could see our destination from this point and it looked imposing yet majestic


For a kilometer or so, there was a concrete road going uphill


The concrete disappeared and the road was unpaved for the next couple of kilometers,
after which we were left with just a trail, hardly a feet wide.


The way was confusing at times in the beginning because there were multiple trails
 and nobody to direct us as to where to go. But after another couple of kilometers,
 there was just one trail to follow and at this point, we were well and truly inside the forest.


Around one and a half hours later, we embarked on this stream. We took a much needed 15-minute break here.


The cool waters were so calming that it just rejuvenated us. We reluctantly left this spot as we had to make it out of the forest by sundown


The forest kept getting thicker and the trail narrower.


At times, the trail would disappear, and we would be left wondering whether we were in the right path. It is said that people get lost easily in these forests as it is like a maze. It was getting close to sunset and wild animals are always a threat.


But after more than 4 hours, we finally came out of the forest and the view in front of us was breathtaking. We just sat there, exhausted and soaked in sweat. Those 15 minutes were pure bliss.


We found a spot to camp and started a fire. 


As night fell, it was pitch dark and the clouds around us made it impossible to see beyond a couple of feet, even with flashlights. We had fruits, chatted and retired for the night under the stars.


The first thing we see in the morning is this majestic view. 



The imposing Western ghats looked so picturesque at dawn. The air we were breathing was pure, and the silence was quite exquisite. 


We admired the sunrise, collected our belongings, and started our descent. It took us more than 3 hours to reach our starting point. The breakfast that day felt so well-deserved.


THE EXPERIENCE
The trip was an amazing experience. We caught a glimpse of the waterfall too, but could not reach the source. Still, the trek itself was amazing and camping so far up among the clouds is always going to be an unreal feeling. These kind of escapes from our dull and mundane lives is necessary in my opinion and I would keep going for more such trips at the slightest opportunity I get.