Gladiator crown

Finally. The inexhaustible Ferrer got the prize he deserved, the prize he was looking for through many battles. Now he can say, “I am a master’s 1000 winner.” Yes, that´s it, he is the Paris Bercy´s champion, and surprisingly the first Spaniard to accomplish this goal, especially if we consider Rafa Nadal.

By coincidence, Ferrer and Janowicz, two players at completely opposite points in their sporting careers, faced each other to win their first master. On one side, the gladiator Ferrer, “Ferru”, the nickname as his friends know him. Thirty years old, millions of kilometers in his legs, 16 titles on his back. A match, a dream ahead...

On the other side, Cinderella Janowicz from Poland, 22 years old, no titles, unknown in the circuit one week ago; the upsetter of top players like Cilic, Tipsarevic and an Olympic and US Open champion Andy Murray. A match, a dream ahead…

But this time, logic prevailed. Ferrer could control the Polish bomber, not without close calls, because the Polish had a break ball in the eighth game of first set. In the second set, Cinderella´s magical light of the week faded away, and the Spaniard closed the match and finally caught his desired title. Already in front of press, he said relieved: “I thought I would never attain it.”

David Ferrer, who is for sure another victim from the fiercest and most relentless domination time ever in tennis with the four racquet sorcerers (Federer- Nadal-Murray-Djokovic), can be already called a master.

The gladiator will get back to business this week at the Master Cup, ending the season struggling for another Davis Cup for his country against the Czech Republic. After that, whatever happens, he will enjoy his holidays savoring his best professional year with 7 titles,(who knows whether he will attain more)  being most likely the victories and titles record holder of the circuit this season; and determined to say in January at Australian Open: “I thought I would never attain it”.

Animales exóticos

El fútbol como la vida, discurre normalmente sobre caminos y pautas preconcebidos. Es decir, lo mismo que ahora toca madrugar porque trabajo, toca también que si soy central y me están presionando, mande la bola lo más lejos posible para ahuyentar el peligro. Al café le echo azúcar, los días lluviosos me quedo en casa, o el delantero y portero son juzgados por sus goles y paradas respectivamente.

Entre la cotidianidad de nuestro día a día, pocas, muy pocas veces se cuela una grata sorpresa, que por llamarla sorpresa, no esperábamos encontrarnos…

En el fútbol de hoy en día, muy estandarizado en todas sus parcelas como cualquiera de nuestras rutinas, el negro mazacote se encarga de cortar balones, el central alto de subir a rematar un córner, y el delantero juega de espaldas o es la punta de lanza de los contragolpes, dependiendo de su envergadura. Pero entre `tanto rollo´, aparecen jugadores que me recuerdan por qué este juego no me gusta, sino que me enamora.

Futbolistas de nuestra liga como Ozil, Arda Turan o Ander Herrera, saben salir de cualquier atasco y no precisamente a gritos o bocinazos, sino a través del camino más imprevisible, sutil y bonito. El alemán hace patinaje sobre hielo, el turco sestea y acelera la pelota a su antojo a paso Moon Walker, y el español desajusta defensas al primer toque como si de un salto de liebre se tratara.

Así, entre vacas, toros y ovejas, se cuelan estos animales exóticos por la estepa castellana dibujando colores y caminos  que sorprenden y gratifican a los grandes amantes de fútbol.