2010 - The year of downfalls in world sports
Every year, many unknown players come and take over the world by either defeating reigning champions or by carving a separate niche for themselves by just playing well. The emergence of new players is a sign that the older ones must go, but the current year has been merciful so far in its treatment to the seniors. There are many players who were superstars with no black spot on their careers, yet with the passage of time, they have become tarnished versions of their old self.
Tiger Woods - Golf:
Tiger http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Woods-c98113 held a death grip on the top spot in golf for the better part of the last decade. Wherever he played a game of golf, he went on to win it. Whatever he did was considered to be iconic. Yet, the accident outside his house in November last year changed his life forever and he emerged as a villain. It was later revealed that not all was well between Mr. and Mrs. Woods after allegations surfaced that Tiger had been unfaithful. Reports of numerous affairs came to the fore which prompted him to take an indefinite break from the game. It took him six months to sort his personal situation. He returned to professional competition at the U.S. Masters but could only end up on the losing end. Although he still holds the top spot, his grip is slipping away. He has lost most of his sponsors while his colleagues who used to look up to him are nowhere to be seen.
Roger Federer - Tennis:
Like Woods, Federer remains one of the best players in the history of the game. However, age and high expectations have taken a toll over his body and his game. After being part of nearly 2 dozen consecutive semi-finals in Grand Slam tournaments, the 16-time Grand Slam champion now trails at the number 3 position to the world number one, Rafael Nadal and the new number two player Novak Djokovic. Since winning the Australian Open 2010, he has failed to reach the semi-final of the French Open or Wimbledon 2010 - tournaments in which he entered as the defending champion. His quarterfinal loss at Roland Garros to eventual finalist Robin Soderling and at Wimbledon to Tomas Berdych might not be enough to demoralize him, yet his fans have started looking elsewhere for a champion. Federer will have to work real hard if he is to add to his 16 Grand Slam titles, otherwise it might be too late.
Shahid Afridi - Cricket:
He helped his side win the Twenty20 World Cup last year in England with his all-round abilities, yet Pakistani cricketer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 skipper repeated the offence before being questioned for his antics. He was subsequently banned for 2 T20 matches and missed the series in Abu Dhabi against England. He returned to the national side as captain in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean where he could neither bowl accurately nor bat well, and where he failed to lead Pakistan into the final as well.
Although he scored two centuries against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for the first time in 15 years, and no one missed Shahid Afridi.
Tags: