Wimbledon Finals
Posted on Saturday, July 5, 2008I took a little break from decorating to check out the women’s final at Wimbledon.
There’s something mesmerising in the spectacle of the Williams sisters and, if I’m to be entirely honest, something a little terrifying. These are impressive ladies, and I’ll tell you this: I would not like to anger them. Either of these girls could quite easily take on the whole lot of us in a bare-knuckle fight, and win without breaking a sweat.
Isn’t it extraordinary the way genetics can occasionally conspire to produce the likes of Serena and Venus Williams? Two extraordinary players and fine athletes, entertaining us on this rainy afternoon, with a display of first-class tennis.
The women’s game is always more interesting. I got tired of the men’s game years ago, when people like Sampras started delivering serves at 500 miles an hour. Bang! Ace. Bang! Ace. Bang! Ace.
What the hell is that? It stopped being a game and became a grunting contest. The winner was going to be whoever had the fanciest polycarbonate-graphite-titanium-spaceship-stuff racquet and lifted the most weights in the gym.
It was bullshit.
Lately though, they seem to have moved back to something a bit more entertaining and I’ll be tuning in to tomorrow’s final between Federer and Nadal. I might even place a small wager on Federer to win.
Unfortunately, I can’t stay to find out which Williams sister lifts the trophy. I’m painting the bathroom, which is a job I absolutely hate, and which I’m no good at. On top of that, I have no colour sense at all, but I think I’ve made the right selection this time. The red ceiling tones in nicely with the purple walls and the orange floorboards. And spraying the toilet pink was a nice finishing touch, I thought.
Stumble it!
July 5th, 2008
Christ, we’re on the same wavelength Bock. Was going to post about the ladies final contestants myself, still will in fact. but I’ve also had the day given over to the care of the bathroom. A whole new bathroom in fact, with running water (or at least water running where it is supposed to, and no where else) and everything.
July 5th, 2008
Jeez Bock! You’re much taller than I imagined.
Remember Rod Laver and Tony Newcombe and that lot? Billy Jean King! What about the classic matches between (cy)Borg and McEnroe or Conners? Great stuff. Especially when you remember that most played doubles and mixed doubles as well. Except Borg, who was weird.
McEnroe is on the radio a lot commentatindg and he sounds great fun these days. I’m not sure genes has anything to do with the Williams sisters’ success though. One of them was beginning to look quite mannish but she lost to what I thought was a slip of a girl Sharapova? maybe, anyhoo they were standing next to each other and this “slip of a girl” was a good six inches taller AND broader, it was astounding. The Williams sister looked much more feminine and almost dainty next to her.
July 5th, 2008
Dan: That’s a bit spooky. (Cue Twilight Zone theme).
Doc: I think it went downhill rapidly once the likes of Ivanisevic started playing attack tennis. Borg, McEnroe and Connors were great,except for Borg’s weirdness, as you say.
Was Newcombe the guy with the very dodgy moustache?
July 5th, 2008
Tennis died when Anna Kornikova retired.
July 6th, 2008
It was a good final, and I’m glad, as hopefully it would have silenced the “Williams conspiracy” types. Could have been a classic if Serena had forced it to 3 sets, but nonetheless an entertaining finale.
They are great sports people.
July 6th, 2008
That was a tough choice, Watching paint dry or the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Finals.
July 6th, 2008
No better man than you to spray a toilet!
July 6th, 2008
hope you didn’t lose too much on the match bock. the mens’ game has slowed down a little cause apparently they’ve done something with the balls. :)
best ever final I would say today.
July 7th, 2008
I’d agree with you completely. It was an absolutely astounding match. It had everything. I’m sorry Federer didn’t win, but that’s just me. I’m glad for Nadal too, and for his family.
This was one of those contests that reminded me of Borg versus Connors. It was an epic struggle, and I think both of them can feel proud. Apart from John McEnroe, I’ve never seen such natural talent on a tennis court, but I’ll still defend the proposition that McEnroe was the most extravagantly gifted tennis player ever.
July 7th, 2008
That was the best Wimbledon men’s final I’ve seen in years and years and years. What a show they gave us. The rivalry matches Borg v McEnroe and Sampras v Agassi and it is a thing of awe to watch them go at it like they did today. Sport at its finest.
I bet nobody’s been to work for a fortnight in Spain, what with the football result too.
July 7th, 2008
First full Tennis match I’ve seen in years, have to admit I lost interest in it after the hard hitters took over and I hadn’t the patience to wait for some ball-boys/judges head to knocked clean off by one of those Exocet style services. Either way, McEnroe was always going to be a hard act to follow. But if they can serve up (pun intended) this type of stuff every few weeks, goodbye garden.
Fantastic drama.