First there was the S.L. Price piece in Sports Illustrated detailing “How Rafael Nadal Humbled Federer” that ran in the magazine the third week of May.  On May 17, of course, while the magazine made its way to mailboxes, Federer beat Nadal 4 and 4 in the finals at Madrid.  A few weeks later Federer won the French Open to have John McEnroe and others declare him the greatest of all time (and also make the Sports Illustrated cover on June 15). 

Also in May, the Men’s Journal cover article on Nadal appeared, and this past Sunday, two days after Nadal pulled out of Wimbledon, he made the cover of the Sunday New York Times magazine  (coincidentally, both articles begin with a scene from Nadal’s win over David Nalbandian in Indian Wells). 

I don’t believe in jinxes — if anything, these are testament to the ridiculously long lead times that magazines require for their copy.  At the moment that Federer is poised for the Grand Slam record, it’s his injured rival getting much of the premier press. 

But maybe do jinxes do exist. All they hype and coverage for the Centre Court roof, and it hasn’t rained yet (perhaps it’s similar to the likelihood of rain decreasing whenever I remember to take an umbrella).  

In other roof news, UK’s star player Andy Murray has condemned its long shadow.  Surely there was a better way for Wimbledon to spend 100 million pounds.

Related posts:

1. Cilic Outserves, Outlasts Roddick — A T.O. Jinx? Marin Cilic served 20 aces to Andy Roddick’s 15, and...
2. Are You Ready for a Grand Slam? Nadal Poised to Achieve “Hardest of All” Tennis Feat Roger Federer, pictured here after the Australian Open final,...
3. Wimbledon’s Roof Yet Another Unfair Advantage for Tennis Elite Sooner or later, Wimbledon’s over-hyped roof will close over Centre...
4. The Sun Shines, The Roof Stays Open and Bookies Tremble This is the most entertaining story line so far from...
5. Wimbledon Roof: $130 Million Shadow Wimbledon spent $130 million on a roof it didn’t need...

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