Mac redux?

The cruelest part of my childhood was watching the long slow decline of my hero McEnroe after his magical year in 1984. I became superstitious and jumpy from watching him lose to lesser players. From '86 to '88 I was convinced I was bad luck for him and would not watch him play.


I dread the possibility of having the same experience with Roger in the coming years. I hope it won't happen. Roger is a less tempermental champion, and I am a less tempermental fan. I have high hopes for him next year.

Gutting

A brutal weekend for Argentina, and their emotional top ranked player del Potro, who went down with an injury. Fuzzy sympathizes with his friends down there. It would have been stirring to see Nalbadian summon the heart to push all those extra pounds around the court and win it in a fifth match today, but it was not to be.

David

For those who wish that Nalbandian would live up to his talent more often, they should remember the satisfaction of days like yesterday when he destroyed Ferrer. It is much more exciting to see David at his incredible best -- Federer believes he has the best strokes in the game -- when we know that he is capable of his inexplicable worst at any moment.

With Del Potro injured, the Davis Cup finals would appear to rest on David's shoulders -- well rounded thanks to his Argentine love of red meat.

Having traveled down to Buenos Aires to slide around on their gorgeous red clay, it is a little sad to see David working his magic on carpet. But it probably helped him yesterday. Against a slicing, charging Lopez on Sunday things could be more interesting.