by Beth Rifkin
I love surprises and I’m not afraid to say it. Whether it’s an upset, a match that goes until 4:30a.m., a changing of the guards, a sleeper pushing a top seed to 5 sets…even a scandal – I love it! An antithesis to the routine-preferring top tennis player in that way, I’m fully aware, but that’s ok because I am not a pro player – I cannot hit a 90 mph forehand, you could probably walk to the other side of the court faster than my serve and I highly doubt I would make it through a 5 hour match in 95 degree weather. What I am though, is a professional writer and fan, and in that regard, surprises make my day.
That’s why I am a huge fan of the Australian Open – depending on my mood, I like to call it the surprise Slam, the shock Slam, the keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish Slam! (emphasis on ! ) The excitement of a new season, the drastic change in climate – players are fit, hungry and ready to go. We’re often treated to come-out-of-nowhere finalists, extreme-heat issues, matches that go all night, early-round upsets, men’s semi’s played on different days (ok, that one really isn’t right). But this year the things that I found to be surprising at the Australian Open were of a somewhat different nature, and didn’t even begin until after the tournament was over.
Rafa in 3D
The first thing that I found surprising at the 2009 Australian Open was the notion that world number 1 Rafael Nadal had to win a hardcourt Slam in order to be considered a “complete player”. At 22 years of age Nadal holds 32 singles titles, including a Wimbledon championship and four French Open crowns. Hardcourt titles comprise Masters Series Montreal, Beijing-’05, Madrid, Dubai, Masters Series Indian Wells, Masters Series Toronto and Gold at the Beijing Olympics, which along with his infamous clay and grass court wins do not say “one dimensional” to me.
No doubt the Slams are the pinnacle of the sport and are accompanied by such pressure and prestige, but if they are the only measure of ability and success then we’ve just solved the ATP’s incessant calendar problem – why play other tournaments if they don’t count?!.
Any Given Sunday
And the second AO surprise – the response to Roger Federer’s emotional release after losing the final. “Nadal is in his head, now that Nadal won on hardcourt Federer has no chance of winning another slam, Federer will never match Sampras’ record, Federer has coach issues…” More telling than Federer’s tears, where’s the respect?
Tennis has always been a fickle sport where players are only as good as their last match; fans and the media alike gravitate towards the player that’s currently winning on any particular day or week. Even in the midst of a match, veteran commentators flip-flop their “sure pick” point by point. It’s only after retirement that a player’s overall record is regarded, securing their place in history, wherever that may be. It’s also a sport where very few have the ability to surpass or even chase the legends of the game, and as we all know, this is Federer’s destiny.
Backlash!
From my discussion with Facebook “Tennis Talk” friends shortly after the final..
EJS: “Well deserved win for Nadal! I think Federer is so frustrated that he can't beat Rafa, that he just falls apart. Nothing wrong with that, but it's almost as if he tries to make Nadal feel bad about losing to him, and Nadal does feel bad.”
Me: “I don't think he tries to make Nadal feel bad, I think it's just pure emotion - can't go into a fight like that without emotion. And Nadal's response shows just how much respect they both have for each other. The rivalry makes each one a better player and both of their careers more exciting.”
EJS: “Whatever it is Beth, it's quite unprofessional. Federer takes away Nadal's moment of victory. That's just not right.”
Me: “They've both cried on big wins and big losses - Nadal has cried when he won the French the 2nd time and when he lost Wimbledon the first time...Federer has cried over many wins, including when Rod Laver presented him with the championship trophy at the AO on previous years...it's just a release of emotions and it goes with the territory. The same is true of all the greats that came before them…perhaps it's the ability to have such passion and emotion in their attempt that separates a champion from a mediocre player??”
Thing is, EJS wasn’t alone in his view. Throughout this entire past week, Federer’s emotional release made as many headlines in the U.S. tennis-shy market as the photo of Michael Phelps’ “mistake” (whose response and apology, btw, were exactly the same as when he got a DUI four years ago – different topic though).
I was really kind of shocked; we all love tennis for the one-on-one gladiatorial battle between two players out there on the court alone – no team, no coaches – just ability, emotion, passion and an immense will to win. As Jimmy Connors said during an interview with Tennis Channel last week, “…unless you’ve been there it’s hard to understand just what it takes to get yourself up physically and mentally, play in front of thousands of people live, exposed, to be criticized for it, have to take it right or wrong and go on and try to win…”
To me, when you’re playing with that much emotion and passion, I would think it has to come out in some way – whether that’s tears, screams, rants, fighting with the chair, throwing your racquet or my personal favorite, smashing your racquet against your forehead until it bleeds.
Is Federer’s head caught up in Nadal? Did Nadal have to beat Federer in a hardcourt Slam to be a three-dimensional player? It’s the proverbial “if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?” Is there a McEnroe without a Borg or Connors, Sampras without Agassi…or a Federer without a Nadal?
Besides making each other a better, hungrier, more complete player, Nadal and Federer have set the bar extremely high for every other player on the Tour – and they’ve responded. Anytime, any tournament, any match in which another player goes up against Nadal or Federer, the challenge is presented – will they have enough heart, enough will, enough passion to take down the best in the world?
Along with what was at stake for each player during that final match – Federer’s 14th Slam to match Sampras’ record and Nadal’s 6th and on a harcourt – they both knew a win meant the silencing of their respective critics, however temporary.
Facebook pages - keywords: (these are all real)
- Whose the best Rafa or Roger?
- We love you Roger no matter what happens
Facebook quotes:
Joe: “claim down and please don't cry, think about the tactic. use more rally to Nadal forehand and drop shot like you did before to other players. you are experienced genius, i am sure you can think about the new tactic not physical strength to Nadal. good luck”
Jule: “You´re still the best! You´ll get the 14. title! Please don´t cry”
Mahmoud: “Federer .. ur tears are precious”
Param: “cumon roger avenge your loss the tears in ur eyes will fill with happyness cum wimbledon you have felt the pain, and you dnt wana feel like dis again so make sure it dont happen again we know you can do it ;) ur da best champ..!!”
Alper: “roger I know. you are my favourite star.. Don't cry because everybody know who are you!! ı hope be happy everytime. . . we love you”
Julia: “Hello Roger. I'm from Mallorca,like Rafa Nadal,and I want to show my admiration absolutelly. You're the best tennis player of all time, and hopefully Rafa get it someday. Congratulations.”
Tasnuva: “you can do it brother....we all believe that.n pls don prove us wrong n pls don cry lyk that....it's too depressing:( u don deserve that.”
Doreen: “Fedex must learn not to cry when Rafa beats him. Rafa don't cry. All that matters is they enjoy their tennis and try their best to win. I so hope to get tickets for November at the O2 arena.”
Parvis: “woohoo!!! nadal won!! i knew it. he is the best player today and he is only gonna get better!! federer is one of the best all-time and is a living legend but nadal is also on his way there. vamos rafa!!!”
Beverly: “Brilliante! Rafa es el mejor. Muy bien ... and do it again next year Rafa. Vamos!”
And, of course…
Mildred: “Thank you, Australia for a match to remember!
My sentiments exactly!
