DESTINY DELIVERED: MURRAY’S MOMENT OF HISTORY
WIMBLEDON – Squealing crowds, leaping volleys, balls hit into private parts, inexplicable dips by the home hero, a certain French resistance – the Andy Murray-Jo Willie Tsonga semi had a bit of everything.
British crowds had waited 74 years for one of their own to reach the men’s final of this very English tennis festival. And on match point at 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-5 in the fourth set, Scot Andy Murray stroked a dipping cross-court forehand. At last, destiny would be delivered. The moment had at last arrived.
But no.
The linesperson had slowly raised his arm and quietly called out. So, wouldn’t you know it, after all these long decades – such pent up pain – the torrent of joy was put on hold. Jo Willie Tsonga laughed at net as all waited for Hawkeye to render its techno verdict: ball in, celebration on.
The crowd was overwhelmed. Murray Mount shook and Murray himself looked to the sky and then collapsed in his chair and leaned his head up to the surprisingly blue heavens. Perhaps he was having visions of Brits past. Were visions of Fred Perry, Henry Bunny Austin, Roger Taylor, Jeremy Bates and Tim Henman passing through his head – a moment to be remembered.
“This is history,” said a Navy seaman in his crisp blue uniform outside gate 17. As for the oh-so-civilized British masses, BBC reported that, “They are absolutely over the moon.”
“I love Tsonga within a inch,” said one fan outside Centre Court, “But I’ll give it up [for Murray.]”
“Mad Sue,” perhaps Britain’s most zealous fan, was bedecked in Union Jacks and had her crazed expression in place. She sighed: “Terrible, I was having kittens up in the re-sell queue. It’s so bad [waiting to try and get a returned ticket so as to get onto Centre Court.]”
Others seemed certain, proclaiming in retrospect, “He was going to win from the start, and he is going to win on Sunday.” BBC’s main woman, Sue Barker, was succinct. “What a treat,” she said. “A Federer-Murray final.”
But not everyone was excited. The completely lovable Tsonga was asked whether he would be watching Sunday’s final. “I have to say yes,” he replied, “But honestly no.”
Tennis historians recalled that tens of thousands greeted their heroes when they brought trophies home. (Djokovic in Serbia, Goran Ivanisevic in Croatia, Juan Martin del Potro in Argentina.) Brazilians in Paris were sent into a drum-beating frenzy when Guga Kuerten won the French Open in 1996, and down under mates were beside themselves when Lleyton Hewitt reached the Aussie Open final in ’05.
But never before had a home nation had such a home hero to root for in a final. After decades of despair in which collective self-loathing had been crafted into a treasured art form – Brits from Dover to Dunblane had a lad to root for on Centre Court – a lanky lad from Scotland, Andrew Murray.
LONG LIVE THE KING – FEDERER DOWNS DJOKOVIC TO REACH 8th FINAL
After a key win over Roger Federer in the 2008 Australian Open final, Novak Djokovic’s mom – in a moment of unrestrained glee – said, “The King is Dead.”
Since then a small but growing chorus has not-so-quietly suggested that the end was coming for the greatest of all time. Hush, my children, Roger Federer is in decline. Okay, the sky wasn’t falling, but tennis’ grand Genius hadn’t won a Slam in two years. He won the ATP Championships and at Indian Wells. Still, the skeptics claimed this was a great, but aging warrior, all of thirty. He was distracted – twin daughters. He lost a quarter step and, while Nadal, and then Djokovic, stunned tennis with dazzling streaks, he had fallen to No. 3 and had dropped two-set leads in both the 2011 Wimbledon and U.S. Open. His killer instinct was now somehow muted. He just didn’t close matches like before. He was no longer a lock and on his beloved Centre Court (where he suffered consecutive quarterfinal losses to Tomas Berdych and Jo-Willie Tsonga.)
Still he’s Federer. A man, a brand and an athlete who has so much going for him: immense skill sets, love of the game, mental toughness, character and an Alpine pride like few others – such drive.
So it’s no surprise that, early this season, he spoke of reclaiming his No. 1 ranking.
Many scoffed.
In a season crowded with big stage events, he said Wimbledon was his priority. But in a near-classic five-set match in the third round, he almost got booted out by the French journeyman – No. 32, Julien Benneteau.
But now he would be facing the No. 1 player in the world. They would be meeting in a major for a record 11th time. But Wimbledon’s defending champion, Novak Djokovic, had all but owned Federer, taking six of their seven last meetings, including signature wins in the semis of the U.S. Open (where Federer failed to convert match points) and at the French Open.
But the Wimbledon semi was under the roof, and Federer, who has far more indoor wins then any other player, is often said to be the best player when there is no wind and sun. Serving well and moving with liquid ease, he captured the first set 6-3. But there is reason Djokovic is No. 1, and soon he was displaying his big strides, short backswings and gymnastic flexibility. The Serb was in rhythm, and he took command to even the match at a set apiece.
Now the match reached high drama and sublime play with long breathless rallies and quick-step swings in momentum. It seemed Federer would break, but Djokovic scrambled and scratched to stay in the battle in an epic game at 3-3. Eventually, Federer’s penetrating, fearless groundies put his foe on the run, and an overhead gave the Swiss elder the third set and the lead. Still, it has been Djokovic’s belief, his willingness to battle and put all on the line which has fueled his success. But on this day – even though his title and No. 1 ranking was on the line – Novak seemed listless, out of gear and free of any (“I will not lose”) ferocity. His serve was problematic, and in the fourth game he suffered three backhand errors, which allowed Federer to break.
The great champion didn’t look back.
He sprinted to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win en route to his eighth Wimbledon final. If he prevailed he would claim his seventh Wimbledon title and equal Pete Sampras’ modern record. He would also become No. 1 and tie another Sampras record: being atop the rankings for 286 weeks. And more than anything he would be reminding himself and be shouting to a once skeptical world that the King is not dead. Long live the King.
AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH: Just before winning the third set, Tsonga was hit in his private parts by a Murray shot. After the players came out to play after a changeover, BBC said, “A new set, but not new balls.” Afterwards Tsonga joked that he would “have revenge.”
CURIOUS DIALOGUE OF THE DAY: A reporter had this exchange with Andy Murray:
Q. I just got a call from Bunny Austin who was very relieved that nobody will talk about him next year. Do you think Fred Perry has good chance to be talked any more next year? On Sunday night do you think Fred Perry will benedict your win next Sunday?
ANDY MURRAY: He’s not alive, though. I don’t understand. (Laughter.)
Q. From up there he’ll send you a benediction.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well, I hope so.
CURIOUS QUESTION: Murray was asked, “What were you doing 74 years ago?”
KIND OF CRUEL: After Victoria Azarenka’s tough day at the office, a reporter asked: “What a beast of a day for you. You had to change your warmup strip on the practice courts this morning, then you lose a major semifinal, and then you’re the last player on court and you lose in doubles as well. Horrible day for you today.” Azarenka replied, “Thanks for bringing it up and putting me down. I appreciate that.”
TWEET OF THE DAY: Andy Murray’s mom Judy tweeted, “day off? grafting on the grass at ntc2day with one of my Olympchicks!!!”
HEADLINES
HOT SHOT AZA BALL
WILLY’S WONKY BACKHAND IS A MURRAY BONUS
POLE STAR AGNIE
RADWANSKA POLE STAR
CAN MURRAY OVERPOWER LE MUSCLE FROM LE MANS
BRITAIN’S RALLYING CRY TO ANDY: WE ARE BEHIND YOU
QUOTEBOOK
“How are we going to survive a Wimbledon final without you.” – What a fan, according to Federer, said to him after he lost to Tomas Berdych.
“It’s the best serving exhibition I’ve ever seen.” – John McEnroe on Serena’s 24-aces performance against Victoria Azarenka
“She reminds me of myself.” – McEnroe on the crafty Agnieszka Radwanska
“She will let it all hang out and in the end she won’t be able to do anything.” – Mats Wilander on Radwanska chances in the final.
“If she doesn’t win tomorrow she won’t win another Grand Slam.” – Wayne Ferriera
THAT WAS FAST: Five minutes after Murray won, the Sun tabloid had a backpage headline that read, COM ON, MURRAY.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I BELONG ON THIS COURT
Excerpts From a Recent Serena Interview
Q. You had 24 serves today …
SERENA: I honestly didn’t feel great on my serve today. I really didn’t..
I thought my serve was off, and apparently clearly it wasn’t, so … Maybe I should be off a little more (laughter) … The older I get, the better I serve … I don’t know how it got better … It’s not like I go home and I work on baskets of serves. Maybe it’s a natural shot for me.
Q. As a weapon, how would you describe it?
SERENA: Mean.
Q. How much does the playing surface change?
SERENA: It’s a little more hardcourt‑y.
Q. Radwanska will become No. 1 in the world if she beats you. Azarenka will be No. 1 in the world if you win. Do you think Azarenka will be the No. 1 just for the computer … ?
SERENA: No … she’s proven herself. She’s been doing really well. She’s more than proven herself to be the No. 1 player.
Q. What about you?
SERENA: I’m still getting there, you know. I’ll be there.
Q. What [shot] gives you more satisfaction …
SERENA: Probably an ace. It’s the most reliable like … you don’t have to think, don’t have to do anything, just hit an ace. It’s like a lazy shot (smiling).
Q. What would a 14th major mean to you, especially a fifth here? That would tie you with Venus.
SERENA: That would be cool. That would be really cool. That’s obviously what I want.
You know, I’d be tied with my Aussie Open thing. That would be really cool. I really, really want it. I really hope I can get it.
Q: Early in the match the crowd appeared to be laughing at some of Victoria’s soprano noises. Did you … think it was disrespectful at all?
SERENA: I didn’t know what was going on. I was just out there for a semifinal match.
Q. With which man will you be dancing after the finals here?
SERENA: Oh, that’s the biggest myth. There is no dance. It’s just a dinner, that’s it.
Q: “Have you ever heard of Hart before?
SERENA: Dorothy [sic] Hart, right? … Of course. I know my history (smiling). Actually Hart’s name was Doris.
Q. What is the biggest challenge in the finals? Is this an opportunity for you to really use your overpowering skills in this particular matchup?
SERENA: If I try to do too much overpowering I can be led to a lot of errors, so I don’t know about that … My biggest challenge is Agnieszka is really, really good at everything. She has unbelievable hands. She’s running every ball down – every ball down … It’s not easy at all. She’s already ranked ahead of me.
Q. When you think though about the lows that you experienced with your health, what is your enjoyment of this experience and being back in a final?
SERENA: I’m … so happy to be on the court. I feel like this is where I belong. Maybe I don’t belong in a relationship. Maybe I don’t belong somewhere else. But I know for a fact I do belong on this tennis court.
NUMBERS
2-1 – The odds for Federer
39 million – Bits of information on Slam Tracker, the computer program which tracks Grand Slams
66 – Years since a Frenchman won Wimbledon
0 – Number of sets Andy Murray has won against Federer in the nine sets they have played in the finals of majors.
