What a great retelling! Especially glad to get this because while I (and probably others) checked in on it time to time, that Argentina match too riveting to leave for long. I was surprised when FAA had such a high seed though I realized he'd been having deeper runs up to now and that had to have been some of his best tennis. And he is fairly young. As you point out, Novak's issue is going to be getting through these marathons and THEN having to play a Sinner or Carlos at the end when they have cruised, Sinner in this case. As you noted, it will be interesting to see how Sinner handles the heat this time around; a one-off issue or an Achilles heel? (Hey just tossing in a Greek myth reference with The Odyssey coming up...)
It was a double screen evening to be sure Kristin. I had the tennis and the soccer on in the press room here at Wimbledon, where each cubicle has its own television, and where I took full advantage of my neighbor's absence. Loved Djokovic's line about 90 minutes.
Very curious to see Sinner in these condtions and very curious to see if he can resume business as usual vs Djokovic or if he stays rattled after Melbourne
Hi Chris - I feel sure you are familiar with the article Brian Phillips wrote in 2015 about a then ‘aging’ Federer (at 33) titled ‘The sun never sets’.
For me you are the superior writer. Sincerely.
And so I am sat here reflecting on how/why Federer evokes such sublime, reverential writing (Federer as a religious experience being another case in point) while Djokovic who by all mathematical standards exceeds him, does not.
For me, this says more about the subjects than the writers.
One instills reverence. The other (begrudging) admiration.
Or perhaps it’s just me still breathless from the sight of Roger in a rich chocolate suit.
Nice article nevertheless 😉. For sure your writing is significantly enhancing my enjoyment of this year’s Wimbledon.
Brian Phillips can make you tear up and laugh in the same paragraph. I read him on the reflecting pool just the other day and marveled at his pyrotechnics.
I think you are 100 percent correct on the "subject vs writer" equation with Federer and Djokovic. It's stylistic to be sure but also about image management. Federer stayed out of the messy stuff for the most part. Djokovic has often plunged right in. I think there is reverence for Djokovic out there, depending on the tribe or culture, but he is and will remain a much more polarizing figure.
I’m one of those who has a warm spot for Novak (I don’t revere sports stars; that’s a little too strong for me) but never warmed up to Federer. I confess I like quirky personalities. On the women’s side I favor Ostapenko although her results drive me a bit batty.
Still recovering from that 4 am! And one of the reasons I left "daily" journalism was not to have to write until the middle of the night, which has become the norm in Grand Slam tennis (and a lot of other tennis). But that match was too memorable not to write it while it was fresh.
That has to be THE SQUEAKIEST win I have ever seen. Right up to the 10-point match supertiebreaker, Auger-Aliassime looked to me like the stronger player and like he would inevitably win, but then he threw it away on a bunch of unforced errors, losing the breaker 10-4 and leaving the match looking more like he lost it than like Djokovic won it. But that's just the thing about Djokovic, he has a way of just hanging around until the opposition starts to unaccountably miss shots on unforced errors. He's nothing like Hoad, Gonzales and Kramer used to be, bombers who blew opponents right of the court with huge games of overwhelming power. No, Djokovic is more like a patient locksmith or safe-cracker who tinkers and fiddles around until he finally hits on the right combination to break open the bank vault. You'd think the older man would tire first and start making all the errors, but no, this guy has discovered the fountain of youth, and it's his younger opponents who start making more errors than he does. The score was 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4). It looked to me like Djokovic won the first set breaker on one fluke shot, which gave him what I considered a very shaky lead, and when he lost the second set 6-3, I figured he was finished and that Auger-Aliassime would blow him out, but then Djokovic jumped out of his time machine and turned the tables on A-A, winning the third set 6-3 for a two sets-to-one lead, making me think that the old boy was going to win in spite of the fact that A-A still looked much more solid and stronger and was out-acing the Djoker practically 2 to 1. Then, when A-A won the fourth set breaker, I figured the Djoker was really finished for good. But no, somehow, he just kept hanging around until, well, you know what happened. I hate to tell you, but if he could do this to Auger-Aliassime, he can do it to Sinner on Friday and to whoever he would play on Sunday. This guy is dangerous. VERY dangerous. He's like the snake in the Garden of Eden. Careful, he bites!
"No, Djokovic is more like a patient locksmith or safe-cracker who tinkers and fiddles around until he finally hits on the right combination to break open the bank vault. "
Fine line Joe. Enjoyed it and appreciate your viewpoint. He is certainly very dangerous and I have to say that as well as FAA played at times, I never really believed he would find a way at crunch time. Don't think I'll feel the same way about Sinner
What a great retelling! Especially glad to get this because while I (and probably others) checked in on it time to time, that Argentina match too riveting to leave for long. I was surprised when FAA had such a high seed though I realized he'd been having deeper runs up to now and that had to have been some of his best tennis. And he is fairly young. As you point out, Novak's issue is going to be getting through these marathons and THEN having to play a Sinner or Carlos at the end when they have cruised, Sinner in this case. As you noted, it will be interesting to see how Sinner handles the heat this time around; a one-off issue or an Achilles heel? (Hey just tossing in a Greek myth reference with The Odyssey coming up...)
It was a double screen evening to be sure Kristin. I had the tennis and the soccer on in the press room here at Wimbledon, where each cubicle has its own television, and where I took full advantage of my neighbor's absence. Loved Djokovic's line about 90 minutes.
Very curious to see Sinner in these condtions and very curious to see if he can resume business as usual vs Djokovic or if he stays rattled after Melbourne
Efharisto!
CC
Hi Chris - I feel sure you are familiar with the article Brian Phillips wrote in 2015 about a then ‘aging’ Federer (at 33) titled ‘The sun never sets’.
For me you are the superior writer. Sincerely.
And so I am sat here reflecting on how/why Federer evokes such sublime, reverential writing (Federer as a religious experience being another case in point) while Djokovic who by all mathematical standards exceeds him, does not.
For me, this says more about the subjects than the writers.
One instills reverence. The other (begrudging) admiration.
Or perhaps it’s just me still breathless from the sight of Roger in a rich chocolate suit.
Nice article nevertheless 😉. For sure your writing is significantly enhancing my enjoyment of this year’s Wimbledon.
Hi Jaye
Brian Phillips can make you tear up and laugh in the same paragraph. I read him on the reflecting pool just the other day and marveled at his pyrotechnics.
I think you are 100 percent correct on the "subject vs writer" equation with Federer and Djokovic. It's stylistic to be sure but also about image management. Federer stayed out of the messy stuff for the most part. Djokovic has often plunged right in. I think there is reverence for Djokovic out there, depending on the tribe or culture, but he is and will remain a much more polarizing figure.
Glad you're enjoying the coverage. Thanks!
CC
I’m one of those who has a warm spot for Novak (I don’t revere sports stars; that’s a little too strong for me) but never warmed up to Federer. I confess I like quirky personalities. On the women’s side I favor Ostapenko although her results drive me a bit batty.
Loved the urgency of this piece being written at 4am. Fresh analysis in long format in an age where news is only bite size and gets old too quickly.
Hi Sumit from Wimbledon
Still recovering from that 4 am! And one of the reasons I left "daily" journalism was not to have to write until the middle of the night, which has become the norm in Grand Slam tennis (and a lot of other tennis). But that match was too memorable not to write it while it was fresh.
Thanks for your support
CC
That has to be THE SQUEAKIEST win I have ever seen. Right up to the 10-point match supertiebreaker, Auger-Aliassime looked to me like the stronger player and like he would inevitably win, but then he threw it away on a bunch of unforced errors, losing the breaker 10-4 and leaving the match looking more like he lost it than like Djokovic won it. But that's just the thing about Djokovic, he has a way of just hanging around until the opposition starts to unaccountably miss shots on unforced errors. He's nothing like Hoad, Gonzales and Kramer used to be, bombers who blew opponents right of the court with huge games of overwhelming power. No, Djokovic is more like a patient locksmith or safe-cracker who tinkers and fiddles around until he finally hits on the right combination to break open the bank vault. You'd think the older man would tire first and start making all the errors, but no, this guy has discovered the fountain of youth, and it's his younger opponents who start making more errors than he does. The score was 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4). It looked to me like Djokovic won the first set breaker on one fluke shot, which gave him what I considered a very shaky lead, and when he lost the second set 6-3, I figured he was finished and that Auger-Aliassime would blow him out, but then Djokovic jumped out of his time machine and turned the tables on A-A, winning the third set 6-3 for a two sets-to-one lead, making me think that the old boy was going to win in spite of the fact that A-A still looked much more solid and stronger and was out-acing the Djoker practically 2 to 1. Then, when A-A won the fourth set breaker, I figured the Djoker was really finished for good. But no, somehow, he just kept hanging around until, well, you know what happened. I hate to tell you, but if he could do this to Auger-Aliassime, he can do it to Sinner on Friday and to whoever he would play on Sunday. This guy is dangerous. VERY dangerous. He's like the snake in the Garden of Eden. Careful, he bites!
"No, Djokovic is more like a patient locksmith or safe-cracker who tinkers and fiddles around until he finally hits on the right combination to break open the bank vault. "
Fine line Joe. Enjoyed it and appreciate your viewpoint. He is certainly very dangerous and I have to say that as well as FAA played at times, I never really believed he would find a way at crunch time. Don't think I'll feel the same way about Sinner
thanks
CC