0371 HKSAR Name of the Day

Popeye Fung Siu-ning, veteran news anchor, Asia Television, Hong Kong (joined 1992, laid off February 2009)

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Will 2010 See a Change of Power in Men’s Tennis?

The 2010 Australian Open men’s singles final today between Roger Federer and Andy Murray promises to be an interesting match up. The outcome will be insightful for how the psychology between these two wonderful players plays out for the remainder of the season. Federer is 28 years old and has won 15 grand slam titles but his star may be waning. Murray is 22 years of age, has yet to win a grand slam but his star is definitely rising.

In head-to-head encounters, Murray holds a 6-4 advantage over Federer. In particular, during the 2009 season Murray probably had the best head-to-head record against Federer than any other tour player. And the 2009 version of Murray (a young buck full of bravado but lacking in fitness) certainly promoted that statistic in the first half of the 2009 season, together with some negative comments about Federer. And those comments definitely got Federer’s goat.*

What a difference a year makes. This year, it is obvious Murray has gained physical power, stamina and better overall fitness during the off season. For example, as part of his fitness regime he did interval runs of 10 x 400 meters. Each 400m run is completed within 76 seconds, with a rest period of 76 seconds, before starting the next run.

[Andy Murray trained hard during the close season; something a certain Andre Agassi did towards the twilight of his career. This approach certainly paid dividends for Agassi. Will Murray also benefit? Pic courtesy AP.]

The media are saying that Federer is piling the pressure on Murray and apparently this is something new. HKSARblog doesn’t think so. This is because Federer made similar comments about Murray this time last year when he also questioned Murray chances.

Although still a fantastic player, Federer perhaps knows that he has reached his “plateau” and that Murray now has the game and fitness to beat him. Compared with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro (who are similar ages with Murray and who also have the game and fitness to beat Federer), the main difference is that Murray has still not won a grand slam. And Federer has used this to his psychological advantage, referring to Britain’s 74-year wait for a male grand slam singles champion as a “150,000 year drought”!


Until Murray wins a grand slam, this psychological edge will remain between them. This is why it will be interesting to see whether Murray wins this time or not, and then what the outcome of this means to Federer’s psychological treatment of Murray will be.

It should be noted that Federer has always been respectful towards Murray and other opponents. Federer said this about Murray in March 2009:

"He's a great player and great players are tough to play against," he said. "He's young, so you still have to figure him out a little bit. He's changing his game as time goes by. Every time you play him, he plays a bit different.

"Whereas for me, it's different. He knows what to expect. That's the advantage of a youngster. There are disadvantages in that they're a bit more inconsistent but he's been very consistent, at a young age, which is impressive to see."

HKSARblog doesn’t usually make predictions. However, for the Aussie Open men’s final, HKSARblog will say that Murray will just edge out Federer and perhaps a power shift will ripple through the men’s game. If Federer does win, then Murray will have to endure “Britain's 150,00 year drought” a little while longer!


Note: This photo of Andy Murray (after a wonderful rally with Marin Cilic that saw Murray at the net race back to the baseline and deliver a passing shot) “looks” so much better when played with this sound clip. Murray did not bother doing a 'Hotdog', as Federer is strangely inclined to do in similar circumstances.

[Andy Murray reacts after winning a point against Marin Cilic during his 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 semi-final victory. Photo: Reuters.]

* HKSARblog understands Federer also has a cow. Called Daisy, allegedly.

0370 HKSAR Name of the Day

Vica Chong Chuen-yee (Mr), restaurant owner and karting enthusiast, Diamond Coast International Kart Circuit, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Grundy on Grindy

HKSARblog had to do a double take when reading a letter in the SCMP about Native English Teachers or NETs. At first glance, it appeared the letter writer was responding to his own letter. In actual fact, it is a Tom Grundy responding to a letter from a Tom Grindy.

Grundy makes a good point in support of the “special allowance” provided by the Education Bureau to NETs, although there is no evidence that there will be a “mass exodus” should this allowance be reduced.

Teachers' pay is reasonable

Jan 29, 2010

I refer to the letter by Tom Grindy ("Allowance for which home?", January 27). Mr Grindy appears unaware that native English-speaking teachers are on the same salary scale as our local colleagues.

The additional Education Bureau "special allowance" compensates for the extra costs - financial and otherwise - that the vast majority of expatriate educators face. Meanwhile, local teachers benefit from job security and pension plans.

NETs have a unique and highly valued role in Hong Kong schools and the wage and benefits they receive are not only fair but necessary in order to attract and retain teachers from abroad. Furthermore, the bureau has a surplus and recently handed some of its budget back to the government. Were the allowance scaled down, the NET scheme would likely collapse under a mass exodus.

Tom Grundy, Jordan

0369 HKSAR Name of the Day

Samson Chiu Yuk-hung, head of marine enforcement, Customs and Excise Department, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Self-important; Son-suffix?

Baseball Caps Off To China’s Tennis Twosome

What a brilliant run from the Chinese tennis twosome Zheng Jie and Li Na, who are the first Chinese women to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament. Unfortunately, hopes for a Chinese player to reach the final of the Australian Open ended when Zheng Jie was thrashed 6-1 6-0 by Justine Henin, and Li Na was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) by Serena Williams. Justine Henin and Serena Williams are now into the Australian Open final.

[Li Na’s non-male-like arms.]

Of the four women who visited Hong Kong earlier this month and who then went on to the Australian Open, Zheng Jie fared the best. It is difficult to say, either way, whether playing in Hong Kong’s annual exhibition tennis event is good or poor preparation for a grand slam. Nevertheless, HKSARblog admits to enjoying whatever tennis is available.

Note: The official pictures of Zheng Jie and Li Na on the WTA Tour website show two different approaches to the players’ self-promotion.

[Zheng Jie from the WTA Tour website. Clearly massively "made up" and unfortunately reminds HKSARblog of a Stand Out Face. Too "plasticky".]

[Li Na from the WTA Tour website. Her bio pic has more of a natural and girl-next-door look.]

Anyway, congratulations to both Zheng Jie and Li Na for their significant achievements at the 2010 Australian Open.

0368 HKSAR Name of the Day

Almustafa Lee Lap-hong, chief executive of the Association of Elderly Rights, Hong Kong (see additional comments at 0324 HKSAR Name of the Day)

About Novel HKSAR Names
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0367 HKSAR Name of the Day

Mason Hung Chung-hing, a senior manager for product development, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Tourism Commission, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Son-suffix?