After squeaking through a fourth-set tiebreak to beat Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic petulantly addressed the New York crowd.
On Tuesday, Roddick made fun of the Serbian's medical self-evaluation, which is starting to sound like Bill Belichick's weekly assessment of Tom Brady the last few seasons. (Probable.) Reading the American's transcript, I laughed out loud... Vintage Roddick.
But Djokovic apparently took serious offense and, post-match with Michael Barkann, fired back Roddick's line about his "16 injuries." Barkann tried to mitigate the 21-year-old's message, but the world number three continued on, insulting the crowd.
Now I am not particularly a Roddick fan. And there's been times I really didn't like his attitude. But I have always given him props for his sense of humor. And intelligence. Even after his semifinal dismantling in Australian Open 2007 (Roger Federer beat him 6-4, 6-0, 6-2), the top American displayed grace in sarcasm.
And in addressing the Serbian's spate of injuries, Roddick was FUN-NY. Anyone who knows Roddick's shirt-sleeve shrug and shimmy of his philanthropy wrist band knows his propensity for lampooning all, even himself.
James Thurber said, "The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself."
Roddick takes it to all three levels. Djokovic, on the other hand -- barely a one-trick pony.
A year ago in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic endeared himself to the U.S. Open crowd through his post-match imitations of players, including Roddick, Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal.
Thursday evening he alienated the crowd. Even when they started to boo, he continued to whinge.
Back in 2007, Djokovic's charades were amusing for a round or two. Though not original material. Many of the ATP and WTA players imitate each other to entertain crowds at charity and exhibition events. It's a natural extension of watching the game. I've seen so much Safin that I reflexively mimic part of his forehand swing when taking a swig from my water bottle. (Yes, I know that's odd. It's also messy.)
Tour veteran Jonas Bjorkman is widely considered the master of imitations. It's something the soon-to-be retired Swede has done with class. His jocularity is affectionate* and the camaraderie is reflected in his long term of service on the ATP Players Council.
In contrast, Djokovic's send-ups are retrospectively looking mean-spirited.
Up until now, I have been trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. But there is a shade of bitterness in his actions. For example, his chest-thumping is not the hearty joy of a Marcos Baghdatis, rather a jeering, chin-jutting arrogance. It's both a preening and an isolating gesture, the latter when directed toward his family.
During that match, Djokovic at times looked dispirited. I suspect part of the reason was that the crowd warmed to the perpetual hustle of his Spanish opponent. They were backing Robredo over the course of those long five sets. The Spaniard kept his performance to athletic display and the fans roared.
Djokovic craves attention and crowd support. I believe he was playing a sympathy angle. I'm not saying he is 100% healthy, but his post-match attempts at self-effacement fell flat.
Reflecting on the tournament so far, I would say the Serbians (including the also dramatic and oft-injured Jelena Jankovic) are prone more than David Duchovny.
Jankovic would probably laugh.
In the latest era of players, there hasn't been a clearcut villain, man or woman. There have been nefarious incidents, but not a consistent foe. Some would cite Lleyton Hewitt -- in 2006, GQ placed him tenth on their most hated athlete list -- but I've found him to be likably scrappy, cocky, and yes, occasionally surly. He's had some definite missteps, but mostly I'd call him pugnacious rather than contemptible.
Besides, becoming a family man has mellowed him. And has he ever had a showdown like this?
No matter what spin is now put on Djokovic's immediate on-court reaction, the crowd won't easily forget. They're good at remembering...
Across the net from The Djoker in the semifinals stands world number two Roger Federer.
In the Opening Night parade of past champions, the defending champion -- who has won it four years running -- got the biggest applause. Though Swiss, he is a native son.
Who is not in his past intimidating form. He's a flawed hero. In the fourth round, Igor Andreev pushed him to five grueling sets, just over three-and-a-half hours. But Fed's reaction at the conclusion showed the public how much he wants to make it five in a row and claim the last Grand Slam of the year.
In his post-match interviews, You're Still The One by Orleans plays over the speakers. This is in acknowledgement of the struggles the former world number one has had all year.
Which began with his semifinal loss at the Australian Open to... Novak Djokovic.
It would be even better if Fed busts out his all-black get up again. He'd make a classic Batman.
Born nine months apart. Their hometowns in China separated by about the distance from New York City -- where they are playing right now -- to Columbus, Ohio. But the two women who have been producing firsts for Chinese tennis are currently thriving in close quarters, and in similar fashion.
Along with perhaps Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld, they remain the biggest unseeded threats in the women’s singles draw at the U.S. Open.
They’re not too far from seeded themselves. Na Li and Jie Zheng are respectively 36th and 37th in the WTA Singles Rankings, 26th and 27th in this year’s Race to the Championships. Both are working up from injuries that dropped their rankings in 2007.
ZHENG (far left) HOLDS A 4-0 ADVANTAGE OVER LI (center)
Back in Beijing, each started their Olympic campaigns with significant upsets. Li topped former U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in two sets and Zheng beat 11th-seeded Agnes Szavay in three. The stopper for both ladies was Dinara Safina, the eventual silver medalist.
The 25-year-old Zheng had the misfortune of meeting the Russian first, in the third round. (However, she won Bronze in Doubles, yet another accolade shared with long-time partner Zi Yan.) Li didn’t face Safina until the semis, earning that challenge after ousting Venus Williams in the quarters.
Fast forward to the U.S. Open, and they’re again busting the bracket. Each has clipped a seed. In the first round, Li bounced back from an opening set she described as "playing a wall" to defeat 24th seed Shahar Peer in three. Zheng more easily dispatched Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, 6-1, 6-4.
Zheng follows up that second round match to open Day 5 with a Center Court date with the highest remaining seed, Jelena Jankovic. Considering that the Chengdu native -- as a wildcard -- bounced the top seed from the last Grand Slam, this is not a necessarily a daunting prospect. (Yes, fellas, Ana Ivanovic is out early -- again. Hantuchova & Kirilenko are gone, too.)
Li's quadrant has opened up a bit more with the losses of Anna Chakvetadze and Francesca Schiavone. But should she ease through the third round, her likely fourth round opponent would be Olympic champion Elena Dementieva.
Beyond individual results on court, both women have been cultivating a future for their country as well. After giving required money to the Chinese Tennis Association, Zheng donated the rest of her Wimbledon winnings to help victims of the Sichuan earthquake.
And so far only time. Though if they continue to scatter seeds, they'll meet in the bottom half semi, guaranteeing the first Chinese Grand Slam singles finalist.
Tennis in 2008 has gone to the flip side! Topsy Turvy! Inside out! What was once ineffable is now fallible. A little tunage might not turn things right, but here’s a suggested mix to make sense of the upside-down nature of this year’s pro season as it affects Flushing Meadows.
Brethren in Battle:Who Wants to Live Forever? - Queen
This song crafted by Queen for the movie The Highlander has its
own immortality, with renditions done by several, including Katharine
McPhee and Sarah Brightman. Sure, this soaring arrangement tucked into
the shmoopy, emotional heart of the film, but the Queen original
harkens you back to the plot, which is about kicking #### when you have
to. Even when that #### belongs to your bud.
The trickiest countrywoman matchup matters most to France. Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo faces Nathalie Dechy, who was points away from taking out then (and current) number one Ana Ivanovic in the second round of Wimbledon. Mauresmo is seeded 32nd, but Dechy just ousted her last week in Cincinnati.
Across hemispheres, Argentina will be watching intense veteran Guillermo Canas try to tame 19-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro, the hottest player on tour who didn’t go to Beijing. He’s won the last four tournaments he’s entered.
Bracket Busters:Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash/Social Distortion
Accept it, they’re both good. Ring of Fire: n. what happens when unseeded talent -- aka a dangerous floater -- gets plugged into the draw alongside a top seed. Twelfth-ranked Richard Gasquest starts out against German Tommy Haas, who has made it to the quarterfinals in New York the last two years. If you tap the Frenchman to live up to his rank, play Cash. If you pick the upset, go punk. Expect to hit replay, because this could be a marathon.
Blake’s Block:Till I Collapse - Eminem
Another countrymen duel. James Blake takes on former number one junior Donald Young in the first evening marquee match on Arthur Ashe. This is a matchup of speed. Which is good preparation for the Harvard man for what he’ll need to make it through his quadrant. Technically, it should be called Rafael Nadal’s quadrant, but Blake has a winning record against the new world number one. Blake would probably tell you that he’s not looking that far ahead. But I am. He's done two things this year he's never done before: a) come back from two sets down to win and b) beat Roger Federer. While you’re at it, go play the 8 Mile soundtrack; Eminem is one of Blake's faves.
Rabbit is talking to you, James.
Bookended:What Do You Go Home To? - Explosions in the Sky
Over in the Novak Djokovic quadrant, the two highest seeds face similar first round quandaries, crafty veteran Frenchmen. Even though Arnaud Clement fared much better at Wimbledon than the Djoker, expect the Serbian to win.
On the other hand, an injured Andy Roddick must battle magic -- Fabrice Santoro in his final US Open. If the American makes it through, he could see rising Latvian Ernests Gulbis next. The draw has often been kind to Andy. It doesn’t seem to be the case this time. The swirling instrumentals of his fellow Austinites Explosions in the Sky could be interpreted as soothing... or chaotic. At any rate, Roddick’s luck seems to be holding in the romance department, which helps, at least, who he goes home to...
Balls and Butterflies:Sleeps with Butterflies - Tori Amos
A limited edition US Open organic cotton tee designed by supermodel mom, Heidi Klum. Is it turnabout for Serena’s forays into fashion? Or perhaps encouragement for Ashley Harkleroad to keep her shirt on. Actually, a portion of the profits go to Unisphere, Inc., the non-profit organization that maintains and preserves Flushing Meadows Corona Park. I’m all for that, but for some reason I am boggled by the tennis ball-butterflies. The song selection is self-explanatory. The title to this entry is all kinds of wrong... You're welcome.
PSYCHED UP OR PSYCHEDELIC?
Big Brother’s Big Shadow:Killer or Crazy - Seal
How poetic to follow up Heidi Klum’s creative effort with her husband’s. And perhaps Marat Safin’s younger sister Dinara Safina will follow up on her US Open Series win with her breakthrough Slam -- at the same site her older brother won his first major eight years ago. Poetry. The women’s silver medalist is looking good for it; she has momentum, health and a pretty good draw.
... I tried. I really did. But I just had to name Marat* first. I would naturally be quite delighted with a sibling tandem championship two weeks from now. Symmetry. Delighted is an understatement. Mr. Klum may not be referring to biological brothers and sisters in the former song, but it works. And in the latter, he means the good kind of crazy. That works for the mercurial Safin clan too.
Battered:Sympathetic - Seether
Safina has a good draw, even though she is in Ivanovic’s quadrant, because the number one seed is nursing a thumb injury. The Williams sisters never seem to be completely healthy. Jelena Jankovic styles strapping as much as eyeliner. Maria Sharapova withdrew from the tournament due to a shoulder injury. As the song says, I’m feelin’ ya, ladies. The WTA ranks are unpredictable these days, which makes me long for months gone by...
Belgian Waffling: Almost anything by Tim McGraw
Dear Justine, you are still defending champion here. Doesn’t it seem weird to be retired? And Kim, Lindsay Davenport is back after giving birth. Does that give you any ideas? In hopes that the young Belgians would take a page from Brett Favre’s many books, I am recommending the oeuvre of his favorite musical artist. Except for I Like It, I Love It, which got more airtime than Favre’s unretirement.
Bean-Stalking:La Tortura - Shakira & Alejandro Sanz
Lacking the consistency the Belgians brought to the majors has left me undecided on a new favorite female player. However, one measuring stick has been met. In a time during which the women’s top ten averaged taller than the men’s top ten, Justine Henin proved she could, at 5’6”, power up with the statuesque. Currently, Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, at 5’3” is ranked 18th in the world and has scalped Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic and Anna Chakvetadze this year. And Cibulkova cites Clijsters as her role model. The petite Shakira can belt it out, too. I suggest the duet because Sanz is sexy... for a non-Russian, non-ATP Pro.
Bottoms Up:Lost - Coldplay
But arguably the most mindbending upending is Roger Federer at the bottom of the draw. This eventuality has long been announced and prepared for. Yet it’s still difficult to grasp, at least for people with leanings toward the Swiss. Could this in fact be what the maestro wanted, even if just subconsciously?
He had been alluding to the so-called monster he created, the expectation to win everything. Now he is echoing those comments in reference to Nadal. After all, only the world number one has that unique pressure, and nobody ever had it like Fed. I’m not saying that’s the only thing at work, but I have to wonder...
Just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I'm lost...
Not that I believe Roger purposefully lost, but I think he eased up a bit. He was forced to in the beginning of the year. He needed some sort of break & his body delivered that in the form of mono. Since then, he hasn't found his highest level. Something he made look easy to maintain for several years, though it obviously is not.
A Wimbledon official admitted yesterday that the twilight hour impaired the ability to see and what ultimately decided the championship was Rafael Nadal’s flop.*
“This was such an incredible match... no one on Center Court except for the players ever wanted the tennis to end,” the anonymous source said. “But when flashbulbs from the stands revealed Nadal prone on the grass at the conclusion of the fifth set, we had to give him the win.”
But this new revelation in London has given cause for investigation. It has been well-documented that flopping can affect the outcome of an athletic event.
Flopping in the NBA is so prevalent that it has practically been elevated to a contest itself. And while known by alternate names, this questionable tactic is pervasive in other team sports as well.
It is referred to as “diving” in hockey, an activity more suited to water that is not frozen. Another matter of enthusiastic escalation in this already contact-heavy sport: when one cannot connect with jawbone, hit the ice.
But this form of acting perhaps finds its greatest stage on the pitch. So much so that FIFA, the governing body of soccer, has taken a stand against what it calls “simulation.” The new rules can apply to embellishment on-field, as well the unique symbiotic relationship between soccer players & porn stars.
At first glance, Nadal’s hammy back-smacker seems contrary action for a man who likes to test the authenticity of his trophies like a Deadwood prospector.
However, further inquiry shows the young Mallorcan star is influenced by both the theatrics of his countrymen and the man he had -- until that tumble to the earth late Sunday in London -- lost to in the finals at Wimbledon.
DID FELICIANO LOPEZ OF SPAIN WIN HIS FOURTH ROUND FIVE-SETTER AGAINST MARCOS BAGHDATIS WITH HIS POST-MATCH FLAILING?
HAVE CHAIR UMPIRES BEEN GLORIFYING ROGER FEDERER'S FIVE-TIME CRUMPLE?
So while the flop in the non-contact sport of tennis has yet to come under great scrutiny, it too may explain some results, as well as lack of, in recent years...
SAFIN'S MISSION: Marathon Marat's superior position on
hardcourts could be too suggestive for Roland Garros & The All-England Club.
POOR FORM: Andy Roddick dared to drop
after only winning three sets at the U.S. Open Men's Final in 2003.
The breach of unwritten netiquette may have cost him since.
*This isn’t meant to paint me a Fed apologist. When the going gets tough, the tough blog absurd.
For me, the Men’s Final in action was cause for joy; the outcome a bit of pain. I expected to wake up today feeling like I did the morning after Peyton Manning won his Super Bowl ring. However, I now suspect the latter sensation was actually a hangover.
New Wimbledon Champion? Yes. New Number One? No. For the calendar year thus far, true... it is the Spaniard.
But given so little betweenFederer and Nadal over the long course of Sunday, I think we need to see the follow-up before we label Rafa the best. I don’t think Federer could have asked for a better challenge to his career. His response -- on-court & off, both yesterday and onward -- will help define his legacy.
Now for the more obvious... Contrary to popular speculation, I did not commit jigai after Safin’s semifinal loss, or the threat of competition for his affection. As a matter of fact, I am practicing my flop in expectation to win over Marat myself!
Today, POINTS ON THE BOARD has the privilege of a moment with Nenad Zimonjic** of Serbia, who is partnering Daniel Nestor of Canada to contest Wimbledon 2008’s Men’s Doubles Final. This despite the former breaking his wrist two days ago.
MC: Nenad, great to have you here today. Serbia has become tennis’ ‘It’ country and was poised to assault, if not outright dominate the fortnight here at Wimbledon. Many expected to see the reigning ladies’ French Open and men’s Australian Open champions in the finals this weekend. Yet only you remain -- the elder statesman, the last Serb standing. How do you explain this?
NZ: I don’t know... you win a Grand Slam title, get your own stamp and suddenly you are no longer hungry.
MC: If I am not mistaken, Nenad, you have won three Grand Slam titles -- in mixed doubles, including one this year -- and were also honored with a postage stamp in your home country.
NZ: True, but from the moment the stamps were issued, everything changed. You’ll notice the award of denomination is inversely proportionate to the players' depth in the tournament here.
Djokovic is put on the most expensive stamp -- worth 46 dinars (that’s about 80 cents to you) -- and he thinks he’s on level with Federer. Then he loses second round to a player ranked 75th in the world.
MC: That wasn’t just any player, though... that was Marat Saf...
Here on the lawns, she almost exits in the second match like Novak, but a lucky netcord and six less dinars last one more round.
MC: Well, let’s see... Janko Tipsarevic, at 20 dinars, is on the stamp worth the least. So according to your theory of inverse proportions, he should have gone farther than you.
NZ: Yes, but he did well beating Roddick and Tursunov to reach the fourth round. He is still striving, yet is just a baby with much to learn.... he still believes nasal strips work.
MC: I’m still not sure I believe your stamp theory. For example, I can’t imagine the men pictured on American paper money grousing over their respective printings...
NZ: Exactly why you should understand denomination! The U.S. order of value is quite good. The gentleman on your largest bill signed your Declaration of Independence, plus he was a Postmaster and well-known to the ladies of France.
MC: I don’t see why...
NZ: By the way, I do not get your nickname ‘Dead Presidents.’ No wonder you are not smarter than fifth graders.
MC: Uhh... ok then, back to your theory. The fourth round was also the end for Jelena Jankovic, who shares a stamp value with you at 30 dinars.
NZ: Yes, one step more than Ana, so she fits the model. I don’t quite understand her issue with the outer courts, though. The Woodies played on Court 18 several times this tournament, so this is legendary ground... these old men don't need helicopters.
Maybe she is too lazy to walk to the court, but on-court, she fought again through injury, so this is good. Shows she’s still hungry for a higher postal rate.
NZ: Yes, I fell and broke it on the first day of the match Thursday. This is nothing. I have stared across the net at the great Martina Navratilova and won.
MC: Ah, in Australia 2004, the first of your Mixed Doubles trophies! You have a shot today at your first men’s Grand Slam championship win, as well as your first Wimbledon title.
NZ: Twice before, I have made it to the final here; this time I will win.
MC: If so, your partner Daniel Nestor will have a career Grand Slam!
NZ: I should be shown serving! I have one of the hardest serves in the doubles!!! Why is the Canadian in front?! ... I look small; we’re the same height, you know!!... I am not even shown holding a racquet...
MC: Perhaps we should conclude this interview...
NZ: That reminds me, there’s the matter of your Latin alphabet... why is the ‘Z’ last?! This is not the way in Cyrillic...
DANIEL NESTOR AND NENAD ZIMONJIC (right,shown looking larger than the Canadian)
Note also Zimonjic's broken wrist braced to allow play in the continuation of their semi-final match against Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy.
*The Wimbledon 2008 Men’s Doubles Final has many compelling recommendations. It is the final Wimbledon for Jonas Bjorkman -- former world number four, one of my favorite players and one of the most-decorated in doubles -- who has announced his impending retirement.
On the opposite side of the net, Daniel Nestor has a chance for his career Grand Slam in Doubles, having already won the Australian, the US Open and the French, in that order.
**All depictions of Nenad Zimonjic’s opinions are fictional. The fact of his broken bone is truth, another reason to watch or listen to the Men’s Doubles Final & support Doubles in general.
Their final is scheduled as the second match on Center Court. This match will be bookmarked by Venus and Serena Williams contesting the Ladies' Singles, and then later pairing for the Ladies' Doubles Finals.
Asked about the Williams sisters' motivation, Zimonjic had this to say: “When a player is in the zone, we often say he or she is seeing the tennis ball ‘like a football.’ The sisters are seeing the ball like Justin Gimelstob’s head.”
Even rarer than the eclipsing of the Sun is the forthcoming quarterfinal match between two bright stars of the ATP circuit: Marat Safin and Feliciano Lopez. Indeed, this stellar event has only occurred five times in the last six years.
Please heed this dire Public Servicing Announcement!
Such a collision of exquisiteness is hazardous to your health. The simultaneous impact of the imposing, rakish Russian and the suave Spaniard in the same orbit is unfortunately too much sensory stimuli for most #### sapiens to endure!!!
Particularly those that described Tuesday’s 25 degree Celsius (77F) temperature in London to be “boiling.” Hmmm... royalty unfamiliar with cauldron and oil? Surely, they jest!
Bah! They've yet to know HOT until Safin and FeLo grace the grass!
The athleticism of this masculine pair of celestial bodies has potential to render you sightless! Deafen your ears!! Outright SLAY you!!!
In the self-interest of philanthropy, I have agreed to take on the burden of your Court One tickets, whilst you instead fortify your vision with vitamin C & manganese-rich strawberries. Cream if you desire.
My bravery will afford you the opportunity to lay eyes on the green lawns of the All-England Club once again. Even as soon as the Arnaud Clement-Rainer Schuettler match, which is a more humanly sufferable amount of charm on one court.
Please bequeath all tickets to:
The Ever-Obsessed Ambassador MCLioness
Solo Inhabitant of the Safinfatuated Solar System
Allsaid paper tokens shall be duly recycled.
Those with Ground Admission tickets, please refrain from alms, though your intent is appreciated. I’ve no aspirations to be a jill on Henman Hill. (Lo, I cannot touch the lately christened Murray Mound... though begging for punnery, I favor the more Middle-Ages Brit to the Scot Brat!)
To further proffer my body in the names of both Science and Deity, I shall bear witness to this heavenly event at the risk of losing ALL my senses! I will do so without the projection of a camera obscura! Without shield for my orbs! No plugs for my ears or nose! I shall even deny myself garments as inspiration to the combatants!!!!
I have been training myself for ages, hardening myself with the virtual countenance of Safin more than any body has thus far or shall again.
The afterimage of his visage already engulfs my brain, an affliction I do not wish to share with my worst enemy, nor any other soul. What remains to be tested is my forbearance to withstand his entire physical, sweaty, screaming, ball-pounding presence. I even dare to measure his luminosity in foot candles!
Please, please, Peasants... You marvel at my generosity and sacrifice, but reassure yourselves that my personal gratification is well in hand.
The 187 cm (6’2”) Lopez has less of an influence on my involuntary and voluntary responses. However this lefty, whom flirts on the verge of pretty, moonlights as a model for a reason.
In my family, ripping is a year-round sport. No one is spared. Though my mom, not one given to making many mistakes, has a perennial Steel Curtain-like D.
My dad, on the other hand, consistently faltered in the warm-weather seasons. For that was the time his three divisional opponents -- my mom, my brother & myself -- could unite to prey on one particularly glaring weakness.
My dad, then Master of the Grass, would go out to tackle the yard in a uniform of white undershirt, plaid shorts...
And BLACK SOCKS!
Once upon a time (according to a yarn I read*) a college basketball coach was asked how he made a time-pressured personnel decision. He answered, "The first thing I did was cut the guys wearing black socks."
Outside of the office, black socks were a sign of frailty, knits that would fold under pressure. Mockery of my father became such a shorthand that eventually it was just a matter of stocking-laugh.
Now I'm starting to believe he was actually ahead of his time.
Because I have unraveled the mystery of why yet another Master of the Grass is so dominant!!!
IT'S HIS SOCKS!!!!
Of course, at Wimbledon, the world's best athlete is confined to wear white. But this past fortnight on the Flushing Meadows hard courts, the fashion-forward Swiss star earned the nickname "Darth Federer" for his all-black night match get-up.
Even while practicing with boys' junior champ Ricardas Berankis, Fed -- clad in a pale, unkempt tee -- could not forego the dark footwear.
Except for his quarterfinal against American Andy Roddick, Federer was not playing at the top of his form. He lost sets to John Isner and Feliciano Lopez. And the scoreline of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4 in his final against Novak Djokovic is only a straight-set win on paper. Djokovic had nine break point chances and seven set point chances.
Djokovic was a break and 40-0 up in the first set. And then in fifth game of the third, Fed was 0-40 down on his serve.
Where a pair of white socks would have wilted, black socks prevailed.
'Cause when you think about tough men's tennis attire, you think of... Shoes?... Shorts?... Manpris?!??
No, SOCKS!!! If a player's preference is "Boxers" or "Commando," well those have a certain zing (especially when I think about Marat Safin). But Socks, which doubles as a verb, packs the most punch!!!
And evidence supports that the color of the hosiery matters.
As the song says:
White socks, they always get dirty The longer you wear them; the weaker they get Sometimes, I think I shouldn't wash them But something inside me says "Do it right now!"
Black socks, they never get dirty, The longer you wear them the stronger they get! Sometimes I think I should wash them But something keeps telling me No, no, not yet!
Yes, once upon a time, black socks were the marker of mockery, the sign of shaky footing, the stamp of a heel! But perception has been turned inside out:
They're not just for girl scout campfire songs anymore! Members of Lamb of God -- a band hardcore enough to kick each other's #### -- are so convinced of the power of black socks that they double-duty them, cutting them off to fashion arm bands.**
Darth Federer.
My dad now has someone else cut the lawn while he slices blades of grass with a seven-iron instead. He & his black socks just won his golf league and he has already spent his earnings on a new club. Master of the Grass...
And fashion, apparently... Hmmm, I might just have to dig up some new material for ripping. But before I jump back into the fray, I'm going to throw on a pair of black socks.
Yes, this is a medical evaluation of sorts. But no, the five-time Wimbledon champ does not have calculi in his kidneys. I'm talking about the pair between his thighs. It shall never again be questioned whether Mirka keeps them at home or in her purse.
It was a wild and wobbly Wimbly, with the rain delays and some outstanding matchups... Henman v. Moya, Vaidisova v Ivanovic, and Djokovic v Baghdatis were most thrilling. But the gentlemen's final topped them all.
One would think Tommy Haas' fourth-round withdrawal and the cramped second-week schedule of his Spanish opponent gave Federer an advantage. Quite the opposite.
Take as an example the way both Williams sisters worked their way into form for their Grand Slam titles this year. The first couple of rounds are always tricky, and a player likes to build on challenges as he or she goes along.
The blustery forces of nature that gave Federer a week off in the middle of the tournament!!! left the champ with rust. (Hey, how about that Juan Carlos Ferrero?!!) And this after the Swiss -- once again flying solo as his own coach -- skipped Halle, the grass-court lead-in he had won four years running. Preparation and superstition, be damned.
The man was not what you call match-rich. And he had a lot of time to think about the immense significance of what he was attempting. Even he said he did not feel as confident and prepared as he did in 2006.
Meanwhile, an improved game and heavy dose of luck produced an opponent that was match-saturated and rising in confidence as the tournament moved on. The same opponent from the year prior, the indefatigable Rafael Nadal. Not completely surprising, but the reigning French Open champion was also fortunate that Mikhail Youzhny and Novak Djokovic played impaired.
Where Fed would have likely been challenged by healthy Tommy Haas, Nadal would have likely been toppled by a healthy Youzhny. And Djokovic had scrapped his way to results that live up to his brashness before he had to retire from the semifinal. So the two finalists spent roughly the same time on court Saturday.
Fortunately, I'm used to the roller coaster of anxiety of a Marat Safin match. This experience gave me the stamina to survive this final. The opening three games had me feeling secure with Fed at 3-0.
That sense of security did not return until late in the fifth set.
In between, Federer battled a grass court that was slower than ever, some dubious calls from -- oddly enough -- the electronic line judge and obviously, the one opponent who is most in his head.
This has been a challenging year for the world number one. He parted ways with Tony Roche shortly before the French, Guillermo Canas took him out of two tournaments early, and in the French Open final, his best game -- especially his serve -- abandoned him.
Federer's serve was premiere Sunday, but his best game was not all there. Five sets in a Slam is unusual territory for Fed. And he was irritated enough by the seemingly erroneous Hawk-Eye that he asked for it to be turned off. (Which didn't happen.)
It was a rough day on center court for the defending champion. But he needed this.
Despite a timeout for treatment to his knee, Nadal had the momentum going into the final set. Twice in the fifth, Federer was down 15-40. Since last year, I had Fed as the man who should and would win this tournament. (Provding he got past Safin, of course!) But on that long series of break points, even I doubted the historic Bjorn-like moment would happen.
And then in the sixth game, Federer scorched a forehand winner down the line and I knew.
This was the Roger I recognized.
No... this was the Roger I hadn't seen in a long time. He was pushed to an extreme the entire match and came through. He didn't always play brilliant -- which is his trademark, but he played brave.
He needed this checkup. Head, heart, guts and nuts... intact!
Some have doubted Federer's ####... but probably not the folks that erected this sign.
She's promised to throw a big party for her fans in September.
And believe me, she knows how to host big! In September of 2005, she paid for some 30,000 beers in pubs near her hometown in Belgium. After her Grand Slam victory in Flushing Meadows, Kim Clijsters led the singing of party anthems like YMCA and We Are the Champions and let the revelers in Bree continue to drink on her tab even after she left.*
Clijster's immediate retirement from professional tennis yesterday came as a surprise, even though she declared 2007 as her last year. She began the season in excellent form, winning the Sydney title and making it to the semi-finals in Melbourne. She is still ranked fifth in the world. Shortening her schedule to stay healthy, as well as accomodate her July 14 wedding, Wimbledon was supposed to be her last big event.
With this in mind, fans and tournament organizers have honored her along the way. Especially in Antwerp this February, where she played the final against Amelie Mauresmo. But many fans and pundits also believed she wouldn't really leave the sport, that like many other athletes who have talked of retiring young, she'd decide to stay.
