Two matches
Jul. 3rd, 2009 09:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustI meant to post this last night, but I was still way too tired. Because the night before, I stayed up to watch two of the Wimbledon men's quarter-finals: Federer versus Karlovic and Hewitt versus Roddick. Those two matches could not have been more different.
From the start of their match, it seemed clear that Federer outclassed his opponent; Karlovic had a powerful serve, but the rest of his game didn't seem up to par. I wondered how he had managed to make it this far through the tournament. Of course, none of his earlier opponents were Roger Federer, who played beautiful tennis and was simply beautiful to watch. He cruised through in straight sets, and never felt in danger of losing.
Then it was time for the Hewitt versus Roddick match, which I had been looking forward to for *days*, fingers crossed that they would both make it that far. I'd never seen the two of them play, and I didn't actually mind who won, as long as I got to watch. Because I was sure it would be great tennis.
The match didn't get off to such a good start though, what with Hewitt losing his very first service game with not one but *two* double faults. But from there, it only got better. It seemed to me that Roddick had the edge, with his huge serve, and no less skill and accuracy than his opponent. But it seemed also that Hewitt was going to make him work for every point, and that did indeed make for some pretty cool tennis, neither of them giving an inch.
So Roddick took the first set, and then Hewitt broke in the second, and then Roddick broke back, and then somehow it was past 2 AM and I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. I just wanted that set to finish so I could go to bed and grab a few hours of sleep before work, but it went on for something like an hour. Finally it was 6-6 and time for the tiebreak, and all of a sudden I wasn't so sleepy anymore. It went to 12-10, Hewitt's way, so they had a set each, an hour and a half in. Federer had practically finished his own match in that time.
I shoved a tape into the VCR and staggered off to bed. I woke up next morning to find that Roddick had won, but that Hewitt had taken him to five sets. Not unexpected, on both counts. I was a little sorry that Hewitt wouldn't get any further, because it would have been poetic to have in the final the only two men in the draw who are past Wimbledon champions. But I guess I wasn't actually confident that Hewitt could outgun players of the calibre of Roddick and Murray - though damn, he would go down fighting.
That night reminded me why I never followed Federer for years - because it may be pleasurable to watch genius at work, but there is no joy in an unequal contest, and after a while, where is the thrill? For that matter, I stopped watching Hewitt once he made it to No 1, and I think for me it has always been the journey more than the destination. I like tennis best when there is a challenge to overcome, and the outcome is uncertain.
From the start of their match, it seemed clear that Federer outclassed his opponent; Karlovic had a powerful serve, but the rest of his game didn't seem up to par. I wondered how he had managed to make it this far through the tournament. Of course, none of his earlier opponents were Roger Federer, who played beautiful tennis and was simply beautiful to watch. He cruised through in straight sets, and never felt in danger of losing.
Then it was time for the Hewitt versus Roddick match, which I had been looking forward to for *days*, fingers crossed that they would both make it that far. I'd never seen the two of them play, and I didn't actually mind who won, as long as I got to watch. Because I was sure it would be great tennis.
The match didn't get off to such a good start though, what with Hewitt losing his very first service game with not one but *two* double faults. But from there, it only got better. It seemed to me that Roddick had the edge, with his huge serve, and no less skill and accuracy than his opponent. But it seemed also that Hewitt was going to make him work for every point, and that did indeed make for some pretty cool tennis, neither of them giving an inch.
So Roddick took the first set, and then Hewitt broke in the second, and then Roddick broke back, and then somehow it was past 2 AM and I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. I just wanted that set to finish so I could go to bed and grab a few hours of sleep before work, but it went on for something like an hour. Finally it was 6-6 and time for the tiebreak, and all of a sudden I wasn't so sleepy anymore. It went to 12-10, Hewitt's way, so they had a set each, an hour and a half in. Federer had practically finished his own match in that time.
I shoved a tape into the VCR and staggered off to bed. I woke up next morning to find that Roddick had won, but that Hewitt had taken him to five sets. Not unexpected, on both counts. I was a little sorry that Hewitt wouldn't get any further, because it would have been poetic to have in the final the only two men in the draw who are past Wimbledon champions. But I guess I wasn't actually confident that Hewitt could outgun players of the calibre of Roddick and Murray - though damn, he would go down fighting.
That night reminded me why I never followed Federer for years - because it may be pleasurable to watch genius at work, but there is no joy in an unequal contest, and after a while, where is the thrill? For that matter, I stopped watching Hewitt once he made it to No 1, and I think for me it has always been the journey more than the destination. I like tennis best when there is a challenge to overcome, and the outcome is uncertain.
