In case you're not as big or crazy a tennis fan, the Wimbledon finals were this past weekend.
Kelvin and I watch a lot of sports. I would say that, while I don't have too many "favorite" teams when it comes to basketball, football, baseball, etc., I can always pick a team out of two that I feel ought to (note: ought to, not will or will likely) win (I was not a fan of the Miami Heat, by the way nor the Baltimore Ravens). When it comes to tennis, a sport which I played well in high school, I tend to be very opinionated about which players deserve victory (so opinionated, in fact, that I think my husband prefers I not watch with other people, lest I offend them!). Generally (and thankfully, for the sake of our marriage), K and I root for the same contestant.
I don't generally like players who can win free points with big serves (i.e. I really did not care for Pete Sampras), but I love Roger Federer (but, really, who doesn't? How much classier can a guy be?). I have no ties to Serbia, but I love watching Novak Djokovic, who I think plays big points better than just about anyone I've seen. I do not like baseliners who seem to have few weapons but get every ball back (Agnieska Radwanska in particular... [who also had the worst sore-loser handshake I have ever seen after her defeat in the ladies' semi]...UGH!) or who can't or don't want to hit backhands despite somehow being able to win Majors (i.e. Rafael Nadal, who also really annoys me with his rituals and time-wasting before most points). Call me un-patriotic, but I can't stand Serena Williams.
I do lament that, more often than not it seems, I tend to be on the "loser's" side of matches or games. I'm not sure how this can really statistically be. It could be that I don't recall as many wins as I remember (tough) losses. Maybe it's because I often root for the underdog, with some exceptions as above. But (your player) losing sucks. I know I don't really have anything--including nationality-- "invested" in most of the current world pro tennis players, and that they themselves, along with their "camps," family members, and countrymen feel their losses even more painfully than I do. However, whenever *my* player (or team, etc.) doesn't come through at the end, I, like probably many sports-fanatics, feel like there exists great injustice in the world, which causes me much grief.
I fell in love with Sabine Lisicki this Wimbledon, and, although I was disappointed she couldn't continue her streak with a Saturday victory in the Ladies' Final, Marion Bartoli was sweet, genuine, gracious and played like a true champion. She was deserving, and I could live with that victory.
Sunday, however, was a different story. While I can't really put my finger on why I dislike Andy Murray so much, and while yes, I get the historic significance of him ending the British Wimbledon-winner-drought of 77 years, I am extremely disappointed that the outcome did not go the other way and definitely don't share the sentiment that he "deserved it" more. I might even root for Nadal over Murray (who I think is the greater of the two evils) if they ever met in a tournament, although it would be a difficult call.
I don't know that I (or anyone) will ever see a Wimbledon with as many upsets as there were this year (although most were met with my delight). It was truly remarkable. However, perhaps what was even more remarkable in that context was that the Men's Final ended up as a battle between the two top seeds. I do know that many other people (mostly outside the UK) also feel bummed and shocked by the outcome of that final match. However, as two of my least favorite active players [Nadal and the actual champion, Murray] stated simply, during interviews in reference to the early exits by top-ranked players this year, "That's sport."
Sports isn't (aren't?) fair and the best or deserving man/woman/player doesn't always win. And I guess that's why, despite seeming "unfair," they are so exciting and worth watching, even at 5 or 6 a.m. on a *vacation*. Sigh. Until next year... or at least the U.S. Open...
Kelvin and I watch a lot of sports. I would say that, while I don't have too many "favorite" teams when it comes to basketball, football, baseball, etc., I can always pick a team out of two that I feel ought to (note: ought to, not will or will likely) win (I was not a fan of the Miami Heat, by the way nor the Baltimore Ravens). When it comes to tennis, a sport which I played well in high school, I tend to be very opinionated about which players deserve victory (so opinionated, in fact, that I think my husband prefers I not watch with other people, lest I offend them!). Generally (and thankfully, for the sake of our marriage), K and I root for the same contestant.
I don't generally like players who can win free points with big serves (i.e. I really did not care for Pete Sampras), but I love Roger Federer (but, really, who doesn't? How much classier can a guy be?). I have no ties to Serbia, but I love watching Novak Djokovic, who I think plays big points better than just about anyone I've seen. I do not like baseliners who seem to have few weapons but get every ball back (Agnieska Radwanska in particular... [who also had the worst sore-loser handshake I have ever seen after her defeat in the ladies' semi]...UGH!) or who can't or don't want to hit backhands despite somehow being able to win Majors (i.e. Rafael Nadal, who also really annoys me with his rituals and time-wasting before most points). Call me un-patriotic, but I can't stand Serena Williams.
I do lament that, more often than not it seems, I tend to be on the "loser's" side of matches or games. I'm not sure how this can really statistically be. It could be that I don't recall as many wins as I remember (tough) losses. Maybe it's because I often root for the underdog, with some exceptions as above. But (your player) losing sucks. I know I don't really have anything--including nationality-- "invested" in most of the current world pro tennis players, and that they themselves, along with their "camps," family members, and countrymen feel their losses even more painfully than I do. However, whenever *my* player (or team, etc.) doesn't come through at the end, I, like probably many sports-fanatics, feel like there exists great injustice in the world, which causes me much grief.
I fell in love with Sabine Lisicki this Wimbledon, and, although I was disappointed she couldn't continue her streak with a Saturday victory in the Ladies' Final, Marion Bartoli was sweet, genuine, gracious and played like a true champion. She was deserving, and I could live with that victory.
cbs sports
Sunday, however, was a different story. While I can't really put my finger on why I dislike Andy Murray so much, and while yes, I get the historic significance of him ending the British Wimbledon-winner-drought of 77 years, I am extremely disappointed that the outcome did not go the other way and definitely don't share the sentiment that he "deserved it" more. I might even root for Nadal over Murray (who I think is the greater of the two evils) if they ever met in a tournament, although it would be a difficult call.
Getty images
I don't know that I (or anyone) will ever see a Wimbledon with as many upsets as there were this year (although most were met with my delight). It was truly remarkable. However, perhaps what was even more remarkable in that context was that the Men's Final ended up as a battle between the two top seeds. I do know that many other people (mostly outside the UK) also feel bummed and shocked by the outcome of that final match. However, as two of my least favorite active players [Nadal and the actual champion, Murray] stated simply, during interviews in reference to the early exits by top-ranked players this year, "That's sport."
Sports isn't (aren't?) fair and the best or deserving man/woman/player doesn't always win. And I guess that's why, despite seeming "unfair," they are so exciting and worth watching, even at 5 or 6 a.m. on a *vacation*. Sigh. Until next year... or at least the U.S. Open...
