A Light at the End of a Cave

Quote of the Day: "Where logic can stop me in medias res is where passion will get me through."

I made that up, really. Came up with that when I finished my research paper. I'm glad I invented that quote, though, for it really suits what has happened today.

Maria Sharapova is the World No. 1.

Maria Sharapova is the Roland Garros Champion.

Maria Sharapova is the World No. 1 and Grand Slam Champion.

A Good Wrongfulness

Let's pretend that this is 2009. Ask me a question regarding one of my favourite female players. "Do you think Maria Sharapova will ever find her old form?"

Almost instantly I would answer, "No. I don't even think she would ever reach the Top 10 again."

As we all know, Maria was hindered by a shoulder injury that took her out of the Top 100 in 2008 - 2009 (ironically, she started the 2008 season by winning the Australian Open and on May 14, 2008, she reached the No. 1 ranking after Justine retired for the first time). Coming back in 2009, she reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, but failed to go far at both Wimbledon (lost to Gisela Dulko in the second round) and the US Open (lost a three-set thriller in the third round to Melanie Oudin--where is that girl now by the way?). When she finally reached the Top 20 again, I was thrilled, but I thought that was it; she would never go beyond Top 20. Top 10? So far away. Top 5? Even farther. Grand Slam final? Heck, no. No. 1 ranking? Unreachable.

The Art of Disbelief

You know this saying, "Sometimes what you don't believe is what's really happening.", no? Well, to be frank I wouldn't be surprised if you said 'no', because I made that saying up.

Okay, let's get serious. Speaking about disbelief, at the moment I'm shaking my head in disbelief, trying to really comprehend what has just happened. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it has something to do with the words 'Azarenka', 'Grand Slam', and 'World No. 1'. In short, *coughs* Victoria Azarenka has just won her first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open and thus becoming the World No. 1 for the first time.

Seriously, Guys, I need to learn to get used to hear or write or read the words 'Azarenka', 'Grand Slam', and 'No. 1' all in the same sentence. Again, I'm still in much of disbelief.

Last Year, No Way. This Year, Well...

Last year, I was grieving during Wimbledon because my favorite female player of all-time, Justine Henin, lost in the fourth round to big rival Kim Clijsters. There she also fell on the court, and the injury would eventually end her career on January 26, 2011.

Plus, my man Roger Federer lost in the quarterfinals to another man of mine, Tomas Berdych, who would reach the final before losing to Rafa Nadal.

But there were two players I kept my eyes on.