Jack's Jock's Jot
Tuesday morning, which was Tuesday evening in China, was the time. The event was the end of season Master’s Cup. The contest was the Fledgling Andy Roddick (thanks Dread Pirate) versus the Almighty Roger Federer. The American had a record of one win and eleven losses against the intimidating Swissman. And the winning streak for Federer out of those eleven was eight straight.
But things were looking good for Roddick. He started strong. Federer looked out of sorts. Roddick’s serve was strong. He had Federer running to cover the whole court. He took the first set 6-4.
The second set would require more work. Federer forced a tiebreaker after the two both won six games each. Roddick took the lead in the tiebreaker, and was serving for match point. He was serving to end Federer’s eight match winning streak against him, and he was serving to snap the World Number One’s 14th straight win at the round-robin tournament. But a short rally pulled Roddick to the net, and Federer’s forehand whizzed past his head. Roddick struggled as Federer surged to win the tie-breaker with a score of 10-8. Then Roddick would lose steam. Federer found his form, and more importantly his serve. Now down 5-4 in the third and final set, Roddick was forced to watch Federer’s final ace shoot down the centerline for match point. Federer won again with a score of 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Roddick went from serving for the match, to losing the ninth consecutive and twelfth overall match to Roger Federer. Here’s the difference. Federer never shows his emotions during a match. He regroups and finds his focus. His composure, matched with his undeniable skill, continue to render him nearly unbeatable.
Roddick over-celebrates each winning point. He thrashes his racquet to the ground and screams to the ceiling with each losing point. He cannot stop his emotions from losing the match. He is his own worst enemy.
The lesson – a Swiss Zen master with a wicked forearm will haunt the dreams of even the best of tennis players. Roger Federer is amazing. You really ought to watch some tennis every once in a while to see the best man to ever swat at the little yellow ball.
Labels: Jack's Jock
posted by Anonymous at 11:54:00 PM
4 Comments:
It was my step father who really got me into tennis at about the time when Sampras and Agassi had a few more years left in the tank, the Williams Sisters were crushing everyone whose name was not Hingis there were actually a few people (mostly in the corners of smoky London Pubs) who actually thought Tim Henman had a shot at winning a major.
Federer (and for that matter, the Fledgling) were not even a blip on the radar, nor was sharapova (sp?) as the reigning russian hottie was still losing in front of massive crowds and rendezvousing with a series of Bures and Federovs.
those were the days.
Since then I've fallen out of watching the sport though i still know most contenders. A fine expose, Sir! keep up the good work.
your accolades humble me, good pirate. i can say that after my own fledgling career in little league baseball ended (it did not go down well when i pulled a bonds and started creating roid rage fear in the locker room) - it was tennis that i began to pay attention to for some reason.
all of 12 and our family with HBO that the cable company has been feeding to my parents house for free the last 17 years... i begin to watch wimbledon that summer (when HBO had the exclusive rights to broadcast it). it was the year a guy by the name of Pete Sampras came out of no where.
i watched him, and followed his career as he became a superstar. i watched him play until the day he retired. i credit him & his game for my love of tennis. and while i must say that federer is betterer (and still a great player) - sampras will always be my favourite.
and that is indeed how you spell sharapova, good sir. she is also a breath of fresh air to the game... because unlike anna kournikova, maria sharapova, already with a wimbledon title, can actually play tennis.
awww. boys, you're bonding! and we're not even to the dates & bacon yet...
nothing bonds the boys like discussing one man being mentally and physically crushed on a tennis court in front of an international audience.... awwww!
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