Thursday 16th September, 2010 13 ing like it.” No other American will bring as much experience to the Nadal joins greats matches in Wales next month as Cowan, and few will have seen so much through so many play- ers. Jim Furyk, his current boss, will be the fourth player for whom Cowan has caddied at but insists ‘Federer the Ryder Cup. He was on the bag for Peter Jacobsen in 1985 at The Belfry and for Fred Couples four years later (Couples hired Joe LaCava is still the best’ the following season). Jacobsen returned to the Ryder Cup in It is Nadal’s opinion that it 1995, and Cowan worked for would be “stupid” or premature Tiger Woods at Valderrama in to start debating whether he is a 1997. This will be his fifth greater player than Federer, but straight Ryder Cup working for it is a legitimate conversation to Furyk. be having. In Nadal’s mind, Mike Cowan (L) and Tiger Woods The biggest regret is play- there is no debate, as Federer, ing on only two winning teams - with his 16 slams, is still seven the comeback at Brookline in ahead, and that these conversa- 1999, and last time at Valhalla. tions should all come down to His favorite memory was numbers. “We will see what two years ago at Valhalla, when happens in the future,” Nadal Mike Cowan Furyk won the cup-clinching said, “but I’m not a genius.” point on the 17th hole, the No one can predict the match ending with a handshake future with any certainty, and when Miguel Angel Jimenez there is always going to be the in his 10th conceded Furyk a short par concern about the state of putt. Nadal’s knees, but if he stays “It was a matter of circum- fit, he could surpass Federer’s stances, but having Jim actual- grand slam collection. Federer ly be the clincher, that was pret- who turned 29 last month, and Ryder Cup ty much a nice memory - a who is today ranked third thrill,” he said. BY DOUG FERGUSON behind Nadal and Djokovic, will “We got next to nothing As for the worst? probably win between one and LEMONT, Illinois (AP) - back then - a couple of sweat Cowan went back to the three more majors, so that Mike “Fluff” Cowan is going shirts, I think,” Cowan said. 18th hole at The Belfry in 1989, would give him 17-19 slam titles. back to the Ryder Cup, a compe- “We certainly get treated better when Couples was in a pivotal As long as Nadal stays tition that has changed since he than we did at my first one. Now match against Christy healthy, you could see him win- caddied in his first one 25 years we get all kinds of clothes. We O’Connor Jr. All square on the Roger Federer ning perhaps five more French ago at The Belfry. fly over on the charter. They pay 18th, with Couples having blast- Open titles, as he is so dominant The competition is as us nicely. Some guys say it isn’t ed a 300-yard drive, O’Connor BY MARK on the terre battue of Paris, so intense as ever. The biggest dif- enough, but I think it’s enough. hit 2-iron to about 3 1/2 feet for HODGKINSON that is 14 slams. And he has ference might be his suitcase. The competition ... there’s noth- a birdie he never had to putt. shown that he is more than For years, the capable of winning on the players, coaches Wimbledon grass and on the and other citizens hard courts of Melbourne and GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA of the Tennis New York. Republic have con- It used to be thought that MINISTRY OF HIGHWAYS & ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY sidered Roger Federer was the greatest of all Federer to be the time. But, then again, it used to finest talent to have be thought that Nadal could not ROAD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ever picked up and win in New York, that he did swished a racket. In not have the game or the serve America, they call to succeed at Flushing Federer the GOAT, Meadows. The received wisdom the greatest of all is sometimes bunk. time. But perhaps In past years, Nadal had INVITATION FOR BIDS he is not even the never reached the final at best of his genera- Flushing Meadows. This sum- CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROAD TO BOTANICAL GARDEN, HAMBANTOTA tion. mer, the only set he dropped all As soon as tournament was the second set CONTRACT NO. RDA/DW/SP/GOSL/335 Rafael Nadal had of his 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory flopped on to the over Djokovic, a match that was CONSTRUCTION OF BY PASS ROAD IN HAMBANTOTA cement and started not played on Sunday because of sobbing into his the rain, and which was split in (CULVERT CONSTRUCTION ONLY) hands, after win- two on Monday afternoon and CONTRACT NO. RDA/DW/SP/GOSL/336 ning his first US evening by another weather 1. The Chairman, Road Development Authority Procurement Committee, on behalf of the Road Open title to front passing through, with Development Authority (RDA), invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the become the rain, thunder and lightning. Project youngest man of It was Jimmy Connors who described below:- modern times to said that “Nadal plays as CONTRACT Description Estimated Contract ICTAD Amount of complete the career though he is broke”, and the NO. Construct on Cost Duration Grade Bid Security grand slam, it was Spaniard’s determination was (Exclu.OH & Profit) (Days) time to revisit this such that nothing, not even debate about who is Djokovic’s sporadically brilliant RDA/DW/SP/ Construction of Access Road to 31.33 Mn. 90 C5 or higher Rs. 550,000.00 the greatest of them tennis, was going to stop him. GOSL/335 Botanical Garden, Hambantota in Highways all. Nadal giving his all on a tennis Rafael Nadal RDA/DW/SP/ Construction of By Pass Road in 15.29 Mn. 90 C6 or higher Rs. 275,000.00 Unsettling as it court is not exactly news; what GOSL/336 Hambantota (Culvert in Highways may be for all those who would that head-to-head record is was different this year is that Construction only) not leave the house without skewed a little by a large num- he has added some revs and their ‘RF’ baseball caps, there ber of meetings on clay. mphs to his serve, and that real- 2. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding Procedure. must be a chance that Federer Nadal keeps his replica tro- ly helped him here. may not even end up as the best phies in a room in the family You have to feel sorry for 3. To be eligible for contract award, the successful bidder shall be currently registered with the player of the Noughties and this home on the island, and now he Murray, who at 23 is just a year Institute for Construction Training and Development (ICTAD) in Grade given in above table or decade, too. has a US Open cup to put above younger than Nadal. He is com- higher grade specialty. In years to come, Federer the television alongside his five peting at the same time as could have the accolade of French Open coupes, his two arguably the greatest two play- 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the following offices and inspect the being seen as the second best replicas from Wimbledon and ers in history. There has never bidding documents, during office hours free of charge. player of the Rafael Nadal Era. his Australian Open prize. In been a more difficult era in This was the evening in the all, Nadal has nine slams, so he which to win a slam. Fred Perry a. Provincial Director (Southern), Road Development Authority, Meddewatta, Matara. T- Arthur Ashe Stadium when a is more than halfway to had it easy. few of Federer’s admirers, those Federer’s collection of 16 slams, 041-2222250, F-041-2222413. who for years have regarded a record for the men’s game. Grand slammers b. Chief Engineer (Hambantota), RDA, Tangalle. T-047-2240363. him as the greatest across the By beating Serbia’s Novak 8 Fred Perry (GB): Britain’s generations, drifted from ‘unde- Djokovic in four sets, Nadal also greatest completed the set in 5. The Pre-Bid meeting will be held at 10.00 hrs. on 23/09/2010 at the office of the Provincial cided’ to ‘Vamos Rafa’. became the first man to win the 1935, aged 26. Won eight slams. Director (Southern), Road Development Authority, Matara and subsequently site visit will be It is an elite club that Nadal French Open, Wimbledon and 6 Don Budge (US): Won his has just joined, as there are US Open titles in the same sea- fourth different slam in 1938, arranged. only seven people who have won son since Laver in 1969, which aged 22. Won all four in 1938, and all four grand slams – Britain’s was the year that the man six in total. 6. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English language shall be purchased by interested Provincial Director (Southern), Road Fred Perry, Australia’s Rod known as the Rockhampton 11 Rod Laver (Australia): bidders on submission of a written application to the Laver and Roy Emerson, Rocket won all four majors. The 24 year-old was first man in Development Authority from 16/09/2010 until 27/09/2010 during 09.00 hrs.