For The Love of The Game

The All England Championship went underway last Monday. This year’s Wimbledon, unlike last year, got off to a beautiful start. All the matches scheduled was played, and the day wrapped up well. NO RAIN at all to interrupt play (whereas last year, it was nothing but rain).
Beautiful day at all times at London SW19. The roof on Centre Court is back (oh, how I miss the sight of it. Last year, it was like a bald guy with no cap ) and they already have the… whatever that thing is called… for the retractable roof set to be on next year’s tournament.
The grass seemed to be quicker, as I have seem my fair share of players slipping (and it’s just day 3) as they run for the ball. The chalk thingy doesn’t fly up again, I’m told by the commentators, as the line is now titanium-based. But, I think I saw the chalk flew up when Federer played in the first round. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.

 

The players seemed to be in good condition (although, not Novak, who is OUT now, beaten by the in-form Safin).

Still, for me it lacked one favorite on the Women’s side. Who other than Justine? Ever since her retirement, it has been an agony for me to even hear something related to tennis. Even if it comes from men’s tennis, my mind was still lingering on her.
Despite that, on the men’s side, I still favor the big No. 1 guy from Switzerland to take it all. I believe he can do it. So many people have underestimated him already, and it’s just amazingly shocking to me, how a player gets written off so quickly. This is Federer we’re talking about.

 

Why do I still watch it anyways, when Justine was my whole reason to watch tennis? She defines  poise and control and mental strength, and it has been a journey through mild and terminal (though thoroughly enjoyable) heart attack for me watching her play (or hearing the commentators from the RG Radio talking about the shots she does).

 

The reason is clear ask the London sky. Tennis is tennis. And I love it. With Justine, it’s a thrill ride even the roller coaster cannot beat, and some times, a stroll in the park with a breezy, cozy wind.
Without her, it’s… tennis. It’s a game. And I love the game.

Gone Too Soon

So this is a bit late. But, better late than none at all.

 

The retirement of Justine Henin from the tennis world had left the world stunned a couple of weeks ago. The Belgian media had suspected that she was going to announce her retiring when she told them she’s going to have a press conference earlier in the day. But people who knew Belgian media when it comes to their coverage of Justine, knew better than to believe them. They all say, “We’ll wait and see. If it’s not from Justine herself than we won’t believe it.”

 

And so she came. And did what the media had predicted. She announced her retirement.

 

I, being a big fan, was left helpless and crushed and sad, yet at the same time I support her decision. I remember all the good things about her tennis, the joy it brought to my life and the incomparable highs I get when she wins, the lessons it had taught me over the past two years, the surge of pride I have in my heart every time someone mention good things about her.

 

I never thought that I’d miss her for the heart attacks she gave me whenever she’s playing.  I, who used to be a tennis junkie and know every tournament, what date it’s on, how loing it’s going to go, throughout the year, didn’t even realize that French Open had begun until I saw the newsflash in Yahoo!Sports.

 

Until this day, I still find it surreal. Not as surreal as the aftershock (I mean days after she had announced it and stunned the tennis world), but it’s still surreal nonetheless. Tennis is not the same. And it won’t be the same. Ever again. She’s the one who got me hooked on tennis, who made me change from being a two-handed to a one-handed backhander. She taught me… everything I need to know in life. Growing up, moving on, working hard…

 

I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done, Justine. You have given me so much. Do I regret the fact that you’re retied now? Yes. But do I support it, also? Yes. Absolutely.