Tennis Anyone

It's the most wonderful time of the year--ok, the most wonderful time happens four times a year, but it's been a really long time since last Summer and the US Open--I can't even remember who won (except that I don't think it was my Nadal).

So a few years back, when I first discovered the Australian Open, Serena had been slipping out of the top 10, focusing on her fashion or some such stuff and all of a sudden she refocused at the Australian Open and won it all.  They were the first court to have retractable roofs so that they could play rain or shine--a very big deal.  The wonderful thing about the grand slams are the interesting match ups that come out of the draw.  It used to be that the same old, same old, always made it through.  Maybe it is just me, but the field is sooo sooo deep these days. 

On the women's side, as much as I love Serena and Kim Clijsters, and Jankovic (she is playing mixed doubles with Tomic--Wow,Wow,Wow) and Maria and Li Na and even Kvitova and Kuznetsova (and it is sooo sad that Sam Stosur went out in the first round--the first round in her own country), I want Caroline to win.  She is an awesome player.  This has to be some kind of a record to be number one in your sport, but to have never won a major.  She's going to have to beat ALL of my favorite players until the semi's and Serena is on the other side so the final won't be a picnic either.  We'll see.  Nadia is already out, heartbreak, but at least she is still in doubles.

On the men's side, there are no Americans left in the field.  When I saw the result of the Hewitt/Roddick match I was very surprised.  I was even more surprised when I realized that it was in three sets and then I saw those dreaded three letters "ret".  INJURY, oh no.  Roddick was injured and had to retire.  I couldn't wait to see the dvr, so I read the web story and the comments.  A hamstring injury, ouch.  Earlier in the game so he played with the injury for a while, double ouch.  The comments really slammed Hewitt.  I love Hewitt.  I love Roddick too, but I took offense at the negative treatment of Hewitt. 

Until I watched the match.  Oh my.  Hewitt took his "I hate the world" pills.  Roddick played well, but not great.  Hewitt played well, but not great.  In the third set, it was very clear that Roddick wasn't moving, but Hewitt didn't run away with the game or anything, Roddick was right in it.  Since I already knew that he retired, I expected him to do it at almost every turn.  Finally Patrick (McEnroe the commentator on ESPN2) said Andy had to be in a lot of pain, but he doesn't show it and he knows that everyone paid a lot of money to see this match and he wants to give them a match.  The camera was close up on Roddick at one point and he was tearing, but he used a towel on his face and was ready for the next serve.  It was agony waiting for him to retire.  I started to get very angry with Hewitt showing his angry guy fist pump for every point that he won.  He knew damn well that Roddick was hurt and not 100%.  I started to understand the comments.

I watched the first round match of Tomic v. Verdasco.  I felt bad for Tomic (an Australian--really young guy, very successful as a junior) to have to go up such a great veteran player in his first round.  It never occured to me that Tomic would win.  But oh, baby, he did.  An epic five set nail bitter.  And then Tomic beat Querry (an American with promise that has not been realized to date) and then he beat Dolgopolov, another fine player and another five set match.  Now he will face Federer.  Tomic you had a great run--you are tall with terrific skills, but don't even think about winning against my Roger Federer.

Roger played Ivo Karlovic in the last round, oh my.  The went to a tie break in the first set.  Ivo was up a mini break and I thought what the h*ll, does just anybody think they can beat Roger these days.  I mean Karlovic is a really good player, don't get me wrong, he's been around for a long time.  It is one thing for Safin (who had won a major) to think he stood a change against Roger (it's probably several years ago, but I still remember it from the period during which Roger could not be beat), but Ivo hasn't ever won a major.  The next three points were poetry in motion.

Let me just say here, that I've had a hard time liking Federer.  The guy doesn't smile and he was the only player to challenge my favorite Nadal.  Roger always has a non descript look on his face, sometimes a scowl, but usually no emotion at all.  And he appears to win so effortlessly that it is easy to miss the poetry of his movements, the shear gorgeousness of his form.  He makes tennis look like anyone could just pick up a racket and hit the ball exactly where they want to.  With Nadal and Roddick, you see force and power, with Roger, it is finess, a soft touch, magic.  I guess it is hard to call a magician a skilled athlete, because it really looks like magic, but I digress.

When Ivo went up the mini break, they showed a shot of Mirka, Roger's wife (I'm probably spelling her name wrong).  I don't like Mirka.  I didn't like her when she was the long time fiance and I didn't like her as the wife.  Roger is the premier athlete in the world, of all time and she looks like a sour puss.  She's always frowning.   She always looks mad or bored.  Uncle Tony (Nadal's coach and his Uncle) always looks serious too, but Mirka, well she looks kind of mean.  So Ivo goes up his mini break and his box goes crazy they are so happy.  Mirka frowns, wrings her hands a little and I think, I don't like you Mirka.

And then Roger wins the next point.  Ivo's box was perplexed.  How did Roger win that point?  It was over so fast--did they even see the ball?  And Wow, Roger has a beautiful serve.  How have I never noticed what a gorgeous serve Roger has.  His movement is so graceful and beautiful.  And when he won set point, they showed a shot of Mirka.  She had the most beautiful, wonderful smile on her face.  I have never seen that woman smile.  It gives me hope for mankind.  Roger is such an awesome player that I almost think he loses some points on purpose a little, so that when he pulls out the win, we will actually appreciate it and reward him with that big smile.

I still want Nadal to win the whole thing.

P.S.  If you get a change to see a Monfil's match, don't miss it.  Cahill said that when he comes back in his next life, he wants to come back as Gil Monfils--who wouldn't want to wake up every morning and be that happy, wonderful guy.  He has so much fun on the court and he is such an awesome player.  Me too.