Tennis, the Menace
Tennis has always been my favorite sport – to watch. I never had any opportunity to play a serious game, though I remember some short rallies back in high school x years ago. Some athletic batchmates wanted to maximize the then-brand-new Pisay tennis court, so before they played, I borrowed a racquet and tried some balls with a fellow non-athlete.
I don’t know when or how my fascination with the sport began. We didn’t even have cable TV in when I was still in elementary or high school, so I had no visual memory as well. Everything I know, I got from newspapers (and encyclopedia for the history). Somehow, I can relive the experience just by reading the facts mixed with emotional statements from the players. Given too that I am a data person who enjoys lists, I constantly looked forward to the updated ATP rankings, or the new Grand Slam champion, whatever the surface is. The game’s scoring and analysis is easy to follow (unlike baseball), and the game proper is very engaging (unlike golf). The stars of tennis are a plethora of personalities, each with a different game plan and surface of choice, though the really big ones can practically play on mud or sandpaper and still bring home the trophy. Coming from a country that’s generally celebrity-obsessed, my short list of icons include Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and other tennis hitters (of course, besides “rockstars”, kind people, and respected mathematicians).
Sampras and Agassi. We soon had cable when I was in college, and I was always on a lookout if there’s an upcoming tournament. Alas, the two superstars were featured in the finals of a major tournament (I couldn’t recall if it was Wimbledon or the US Open of 2001 or 2002). That fact shouldn’t be surprising, except that both players were past their prime at that time, though they still were serious contenders. I usually go to school at 8 AM even if my classes start after lunch; this day was different. It’s just necessary to stay home and finish the classic match. And so I did.
I am a fan of both players, though I was rooting for Sampras more. Maybe because he was the silent type like me, unlike the outburst-inclined Agassi. Maybe because he has more Grand Slam titles, though Agassi has at least one title from all four tournaments. When the game began, I was clapping for every point, whether for Andre or for Pete. I actually wanted a long game, so I was cheering for the person who was lagging behind in points. The two are friends off-court, but as the game was in play, it’s as if they were tasked to kill and obliterate the opponent. In a very civil way. In the end, it was Sampras who prevailed. Not surprisingly, Agassi was happy for Sampras.
Fast forward to the present. The Sampras-Agassi rivalry has long retired in the annals of tennis history, and the current top tennis superstars – Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal – are revving up for another epic match in the 2008 Wimbledon finals. Nadal, a power hitter, is a four-time French Open champ, doing it in consecutive years. Meanwhile, Federer is perhaps the most elegant player today, and is Wimbledon king the past five years. The newspapers have highlighted the Mr. Clay vs. Mr. Grass angle a million times: Nadal was Wimbledon runner-up the past 2 years, while Federer is twice runner-up as well in Roland Garros. There is no doubt that they are 1 and 2 (even if Australian Open winner Djokovic is slowly making his presence felt); therefore, it’s a must that I get to watch the finals. This should be an epic match.
Since we don’t have cable TV at home, I had to watch with a coteacher. Since it’s a Sunday night, I was preparing Math 1 stuff while watching. I’m rooting more for Nadal, because he came close to winning last year, unlike Federer’s French Open loss, which is very much lopsided (in exchange, I will be cheering for Roger in next year’s French Open). And he leads their career match-ups. Plus, Nadal is a leftie like me. Haha. Anyway, after the replay of the Williams sisters’ finals showdown, I was a bit impatient already because a drizzle delayed the beginning of the game.
As soon as the game commenced, I realized that Roger finishes a point almost immediately after he serves, and since I’m busy working, I miss the winning shot almost always. In contrast, Nadal allows me to work, since he maximizes the 20 seconds allowed before the ball is served (to the dismay of his opponents). Every point is very hard-earned. Just like before, I was clapping for a point by any player. Rafa won the first two sets overwhelmingly (even coming from behind in the second), and is all set to demolish the grass king.
And then the rain poured. Federer is leading 5-4 when play was stopped. Argh. Practically, the rain saved Roger from being robbed of the crown. This gave me time to work. However, I finished my Math 1 stuff already, yet the game has not resumed. It’s already midnight, and there are classes the next day, so I had to go home with much reservations. True enough, the moment I hailed a cab, play was on again. Apparently, it was the first of three rain delays. When I woke up, I was greeted with text messages that were actually straightforward regarding the outcome. The paranoid person in me insisted that Federer won a 6th, and for a time I felt sad for Nadal, for he had the momentum already, winning the first two sets. Later that day, through the Internet, I verified that I was incorrect, and Nadal succeeded in having his first non-French-Open Grand Slam title. Whew. Somebody commented that I just missed what was probably the best tennis finals in history. But I had class the next day, so it was a choice between being the supreme spectator on the couch, or the player in center court, in front of the class, on the platform. The choice was easy.
There’s something about tennis that resembles life. All the rules are laid out, things are measured (the court’s length and width, the net’s height, racquets should be in regulation, etc), and yet, once the serve is under way, nobody is in control. A player must learn how to adjust to the varying ball spins and speeds, to the wind’s ever-changing directions, to the rowdy crowd (the grunting Monica Seles must know this after her stabbing incident), to the misjudgment of the umpire, to weather changes that may cause the game’s suspension. Both players must have practiced every possible shot – backhand, forehand, frontline slams, crazy spins, unexpected drop shots – about a million times with equally agile practice partners for years, yet they are bound to commit double faults and unforced errors. That’s life. You can never be totally ready, but somehow, you should try to dominate and enjoy the ride. Who knows, after five or so hours (years) of struggle, and when the dust has settled, you will be declared victor.
I don’t know when or how my fascination with the sport began. We didn’t even have cable TV in when I was still in elementary or high school, so I had no visual memory as well. Everything I know, I got from newspapers (and encyclopedia for the history). Somehow, I can relive the experience just by reading the facts mixed with emotional statements from the players. Given too that I am a data person who enjoys lists, I constantly looked forward to the updated ATP rankings, or the new Grand Slam champion, whatever the surface is. The game’s scoring and analysis is easy to follow (unlike baseball), and the game proper is very engaging (unlike golf). The stars of tennis are a plethora of personalities, each with a different game plan and surface of choice, though the really big ones can practically play on mud or sandpaper and still bring home the trophy. Coming from a country that’s generally celebrity-obsessed, my short list of icons include Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and other tennis hitters (of course, besides “rockstars”, kind people, and respected mathematicians).
Sampras and Agassi. We soon had cable when I was in college, and I was always on a lookout if there’s an upcoming tournament. Alas, the two superstars were featured in the finals of a major tournament (I couldn’t recall if it was Wimbledon or the US Open of 2001 or 2002). That fact shouldn’t be surprising, except that both players were past their prime at that time, though they still were serious contenders. I usually go to school at 8 AM even if my classes start after lunch; this day was different. It’s just necessary to stay home and finish the classic match. And so I did.
I am a fan of both players, though I was rooting for Sampras more. Maybe because he was the silent type like me, unlike the outburst-inclined Agassi. Maybe because he has more Grand Slam titles, though Agassi has at least one title from all four tournaments. When the game began, I was clapping for every point, whether for Andre or for Pete. I actually wanted a long game, so I was cheering for the person who was lagging behind in points. The two are friends off-court, but as the game was in play, it’s as if they were tasked to kill and obliterate the opponent. In a very civil way. In the end, it was Sampras who prevailed. Not surprisingly, Agassi was happy for Sampras.
Fast forward to the present. The Sampras-Agassi rivalry has long retired in the annals of tennis history, and the current top tennis superstars – Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal – are revving up for another epic match in the 2008 Wimbledon finals. Nadal, a power hitter, is a four-time French Open champ, doing it in consecutive years. Meanwhile, Federer is perhaps the most elegant player today, and is Wimbledon king the past five years. The newspapers have highlighted the Mr. Clay vs. Mr. Grass angle a million times: Nadal was Wimbledon runner-up the past 2 years, while Federer is twice runner-up as well in Roland Garros. There is no doubt that they are 1 and 2 (even if Australian Open winner Djokovic is slowly making his presence felt); therefore, it’s a must that I get to watch the finals. This should be an epic match.
Since we don’t have cable TV at home, I had to watch with a coteacher. Since it’s a Sunday night, I was preparing Math 1 stuff while watching. I’m rooting more for Nadal, because he came close to winning last year, unlike Federer’s French Open loss, which is very much lopsided (in exchange, I will be cheering for Roger in next year’s French Open). And he leads their career match-ups. Plus, Nadal is a leftie like me. Haha. Anyway, after the replay of the Williams sisters’ finals showdown, I was a bit impatient already because a drizzle delayed the beginning of the game.
As soon as the game commenced, I realized that Roger finishes a point almost immediately after he serves, and since I’m busy working, I miss the winning shot almost always. In contrast, Nadal allows me to work, since he maximizes the 20 seconds allowed before the ball is served (to the dismay of his opponents). Every point is very hard-earned. Just like before, I was clapping for a point by any player. Rafa won the first two sets overwhelmingly (even coming from behind in the second), and is all set to demolish the grass king.
And then the rain poured. Federer is leading 5-4 when play was stopped. Argh. Practically, the rain saved Roger from being robbed of the crown. This gave me time to work. However, I finished my Math 1 stuff already, yet the game has not resumed. It’s already midnight, and there are classes the next day, so I had to go home with much reservations. True enough, the moment I hailed a cab, play was on again. Apparently, it was the first of three rain delays. When I woke up, I was greeted with text messages that were actually straightforward regarding the outcome. The paranoid person in me insisted that Federer won a 6th, and for a time I felt sad for Nadal, for he had the momentum already, winning the first two sets. Later that day, through the Internet, I verified that I was incorrect, and Nadal succeeded in having his first non-French-Open Grand Slam title. Whew. Somebody commented that I just missed what was probably the best tennis finals in history. But I had class the next day, so it was a choice between being the supreme spectator on the couch, or the player in center court, in front of the class, on the platform. The choice was easy.
There’s something about tennis that resembles life. All the rules are laid out, things are measured (the court’s length and width, the net’s height, racquets should be in regulation, etc), and yet, once the serve is under way, nobody is in control. A player must learn how to adjust to the varying ball spins and speeds, to the wind’s ever-changing directions, to the rowdy crowd (the grunting Monica Seles must know this after her stabbing incident), to the misjudgment of the umpire, to weather changes that may cause the game’s suspension. Both players must have practiced every possible shot – backhand, forehand, frontline slams, crazy spins, unexpected drop shots – about a million times with equally agile practice partners for years, yet they are bound to commit double faults and unforced errors. That’s life. You can never be totally ready, but somehow, you should try to dominate and enjoy the ride. Who knows, after five or so hours (years) of struggle, and when the dust has settled, you will be declared victor.
posted by mardan at 3:02 PM
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