I started playing tennis when I was in fifth grade. Unfortunately, my wise old grandmother didn't like me staying after school to practice. She thought I needed to be at home doing my homework, so I didn't get to play tennis very long under the aegis of a coach at school. Instead, I had to be your weekend hacker, and my wise old grandmother would sit in the car at the school tennis courts to keep an eye on me. I guess the fact that when she adopted me I did have a lot of juvenile baggage and skeletons in my closet that caused her to take a greater interest in me than might otherwise have been done with a straight A student who wanted to play tennis.
Of course, the greatest tennis tournament in the world typically ends on Fourth of July weekend, which always caused havoc for me when friends wanted to go boating, or skiing, or flying on the weekend that Wimbledon was having its men's and women's championships. I missed out on many a good time, I think, but I also saw many a great tennis match -- Borg vs. McEnroe, 1980; Nadal vs. Federer, 2008. And those were, indeed, great, but the greatest in my book that I've personally watched is Federer vs. Roddick, 2009. And that goes for all the other Grand Slam tournaments, too -- Australian Open, French Open, and U.S. Open.
The one thing that has always bothered me about how tennis is scored, though, was perfectly illustrated in Federer vs. Roddick, 2009. In tennis, it's not necessarily who wins the most points, or who wins the most games. It's really a case of who wins the right points at the right time in the right games. Both Federer and Roddick were awesome, and the play throughout the match was of the highest quality. Roddick lost his serve only once, and Federer lost his twice. Unfortunately, Roddick's lost serve was the very last game of the match, and that was the one that ultimately meant the most.
Nonetheless, Roddick proved that he is, indeed, back, courtesy of his new coach, Larry Stefanki, and his beautiful new wife, a model named Brooklyn Decker. After last year's early Wimbledon exit, Brooklyn, then his girlfriend, convinced Roddick that he was too young to quit and that with a lot of hard work, dedication, and a good coach, he could get back to being in tennis championship finals. That's exactly what has happened.
I've been a fan of Andy Roddick since his junior years. Congratulations, Andy, for winning the match even though you didn't win it at the right time. I hope to see you many more times in these championship finals. I know you'll get your wins.
Hi Ray, Tennis is one of my favorite things and I left a wonderful tennis club in Laguna Niguel and moved to Port Townsend where there are no clubs and you're on your own to find a game. After many years of trying I got into a lovely congenial group of C type players that meet about 3 times a week for mixed doubles. We got together this morning( 6 am ) at the home of one of the members to watch this match on his huge, HD tv. It was really a nice morning, the host had spread the table with all sorts of Wimbledon memorabillia, books and old rackets. We had mimosas, strawberries and scones. I thouroughly enjoyed the match and was hoping Pete's record would remain a bit longer, but that was a very well played finals by both men.
I hope you are still playing tennis and ejoying it. Play as much as you can before your legs give out!
Ray - Roddick's dedication and hard training is paying off big dividends. I thought the match was an amazing clean performance from Andy and Roger. I look forward to Andy getting him a few majors. He is on a roll.
Hey, Gary - Roddick is only 27. If he continues with his current dedication and regimen, I suspect he can get two or three more major titles. It still takes a little luck of the draw, though, even when you're as good as Federer is.
Hey, Sandra - It wasn't my legs that gave out, it was my knees. From years of jogging, tennis, racquetball, and volleyball. I can't imagine what some of the football, basketball, and track professionals go through in their after-career lives.
Hey, Rebecca - I can't remember the last time I missed a Grand Slam final for either the men or the women. I figure if I can't play tennis, I sure as hec can watch.
Hey, Kenneth - I just hope his coach, Larry Stefancik, can keep him mentally in the game. I always thought that was his biggest problem. Same thing with McEnroe. If he could have channeled his on-court anger and frustration into playing tennis like Federer does, and like Roddick did this time, I think Federer might still be chasing McEnroe's Grand Slam record.
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I started playing tennis when I was in fifth grade. Unfortunately, my wise old grandmother didn't like me staying after school to practice. She thought I needed to be at home doing my homework, so I didn't get to play tennis very long under the aegis of a coach at school. Instead, I had to be your weekend hacker, and my wise old grandmother would sit in the car at the school tennis courts to keep an eye on me. I guess the fact that when she adopted me I did have a lot of juvenile baggage and skeletons in my closet that caused her to take a greater interest in me than might otherwise have been done with a straight A student who wanted to play tennis.
The one thing that has always bothered me about how tennis is scored, though, was perfectly illustrated in Federer vs. Roddick, 2009. In tennis, it's not necessarily who wins the most points, or who wins the most games. It's really a case of who wins the right points at the right time in the right games. Both Federer and Roddick were awesome, and the play throughout the match was of the highest quality. Roddick lost his serve only once, and Federer lost his twice. Unfortunately, Roddick's lost serve was the very last game of the match, and that was the one that ultimately meant the most.
;)
;)
That was some match, but that may have been Roddick's last chance to win the big one.