FREEDOM IS SLAVERY: Here in London, the Daily Telegraph offered the jolly headline, “Since When Did Authorities Start Taking Us All For Idiots?” Then, writer James Corrigan reflected on Wimbledon’s contention that the slippery courts were just the same as ever and hadn’t contributed to all the falls and withdrawals this year. Corrigan wrote: “War is Peace” “Freedom is Slavery” … “The courts are not slippery.” He went on to ask what billions of anti-establishment thinkers have wondered for aeons: “Why is the first reaction always to go on the attack? That is not good government; it is pathetic paranoia.”
HOW QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AT WIMBLEDON: Instead of asking Laura Robson “How do you deal with having all that incredible crowd support out there?” a British reporter said: “The affection, the enthusiasm for you from the crowd is becoming very strong. There are various experts that say that does impose extraordinary levels of pressure. Is it something you have to deal with, this feeling that when you go out, especially [at] Wimbledon, [on] the Centre Court, you’re going to deal with a huge amount of expectation? Is this something you think you might have to deal with sooner or later?”
Teen Robson responded, “I love when people get involved. You know, sometimes they do like a massive groan if I hit a double fault, but I’m doing it as well. So, yeah, we’re just living it together.”
RANKING REALITY: On July 8th, Roger Federer will drop out of the top four for the first time in over a decade.
IF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THOUGHT LIKE THIS, IT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO LIVE: Last night, IT had this dialog with No. 1 Novak Djokovic:
Inside Tennis: A lot of players go from tournament to tournament and focus pretty much just on the tennis. But there is a tradition going back to Arthur Ashe of players being interested in ideas and a range of sites. There were reports you went to a Buddhist center here in town. Describe what that was like.
Novak Djokovic: It’s very calm and quiet, obviously. I stay in a house which is very nearby. This is a usual place which we all visit.
We like Wimbledon and London in general because there’s so many beautiful parks and nature, you know, places which you can call getaways. During these two weeks of a hectic Grand Slam atmosphere, [with] so many people [around], there is [a] huge amount of pressure and stress, so you need to have a place where you know you can switch off and recharge your batteries.
IT: So it’s like, I don’t know, the impermanence that gives it a different perspective?
ND: Absolutely. I can’t talk much about that. I guess it’s private, in a way. But I just can say that it’s a very calm and very beautiful environment where I like to spend time.
Novak’s comments brought to mind another exchange IT had with the Serb, in Indian Wells, on the eve of the election of the Pope. We asked about his contacts with the Orthodox church, his being awarded the Order of St. Sava, and the role of religion in his life. He replied “Religion is a very sensitive subject. So I will choose my words wisely. I respect every religion. [But] I believe that people depend on it too much … I believe that religion and the faith should be something that comes from a free choice of a person. We are all the same in the end, [we all are the] same people that belong to the same origin of love and life … We basically pray to the same energy but in a different way … I respect the honors that I got from Serbian Orthodox Church. Of course it’s a huge honor and I’m privileged. Aside from that, there’s nothing much I can say. I’m not framed by any religion or anything else. I respect the freedom of choice, and all the people should. If all the people in the world think like this … it would be a much better place to live.”
MAN, LIFE, AND THE CYCLE OF TIME: When reflecting on his historic first-round win over Pete Sampras 12 years ago, Roger Federer said, “Later I saw him sitting in the locker room with his head down, and I thought, ‘Sure, I’m going to go through moments like this in my career.’”
MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY: Earlier this week, Serena Williams said Laura Robson could reach the top ten and maybe go higher. Then Robson said, “She’s obviously the best player of all time.” Next, IT followed up and asked Robson how she thought Serena compared with Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf. She replied, “I think it’s very hard to compare generations. Everyone plays so differently. But I just think in terms of power and also movement around the court, Serena’s like way up there. For me, she is the best player. Everyone has varying opinions.”
PUTTING THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES IN A WHOLE NEW (X-RATED) LIGHT: A reporter said to Laura Robson, “Serena’s been challenged to a match by Andy Murray. Are you interested in seeing how that one might go if they get it on in Vegas?” Robson replied, “That’s interesting wording. I think everyone would watch that, yeah.”
SEEDS TOPPLE: More men’s and women’s seeds have fallen in Wimbledon than any other Slam in the Open era.
A GREAT WIMBLEDON SIGHT: The pioneering icon, broadcaster Bud Collins, is back where he belongs, in the Centre Court press box—sporting bright pink crocs, no less.
THE POWER OF HUMAN NATURE: How many times have we seen a player score the win of a lifetime and then promptly (and often quietly) lose in the next round? Today, upset artists Sergiy Stakhovsky and Michelle Larcher de Brito (who beat Federer and Maria Sharapova, respectively) joined Steve Darcis in this year’s tournament, and Lukas Rosol from last year, in crashing out after their shock victories.
PSYCHOLOGICAL REVELATION OF THE YEAR: Alison Riske, a young, appealing American (and suddenly, there are so many of them), admitted that she always carries around the blanket which she had as a baby. Of course, it’s now more like a rag.
QUESTION OF THE FORTNIGHT: Alison, what is the color of your blanket?
HEADLINES:
TOO EARLY FOR FEAR
ANDY WANTS VEGAS DATE WITH SERENA
LAURA’S GOING RIGHT TO THE TOP
MANIA MOUNTS AS NATION SCENTS A MURRAY TRIUMPH
YOU CANNOT BE BLOWING THIS: MCENROE TELLS ANDY IT WILL BE A CATASTROPHE IF HE FAILS TO REACH THE FINAL
TOMIC CONTINUES TO CARRY HOPES OF NATION STEEPED IN SAD MEDIOCRITY
I’M TOO OLD FOR TENNIS, DUCHESS ADMITS, AS BBC STARS ‘AMBUSH’ HER
ONE BY ONE THE TENNIS GODS SLIPPED AWAY
SPOTTED IN THE MEDIA CAFETERIA: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who, according to literary mythology, once noticed an 11-year Rafa Nadal moonballing and used him as the inspiration for Quidditch.
SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN AND OTHER INVENTIVE GARDENING THEORIES: Due to all of the rains this season in England, lawns are too lush and full of sugar, and not as thin and dry as they should be.
SAY IT ISN’T SO: America’s spiffiest young prospect, Sloane Stephens, won the first set of her match against the talented Petra Cetkovska in a tiebreak, but then lost the second set, 6-0. Fortunately for Sloane, the match was suspended due to darkness.
A CURIOUS FINAL: A letter to the editor by one Brian Christley of Abergele, Conwy contended, “If this week’s casualty rate continues, the Wimbledon final could end up between Sue Barker and John McEnroe.”
DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES: A reporter asked German-American Tommy Haas, ”Can we desperate US journalists count you as the last American in the draw?” The surging “senior” replied, “You can write that, sure. That’s fine with me.”
A TRUE SIGN OF INTEGRITY: The frequently injured Haas joked,”I don’t get a handout just because I’ve had five surgeries in my career. It’s not like that. You have to earn everything … You can’t buy ATP points to buy your ranking. It’s not possible; otherwise [Ernests] Gulbis [the son of one of Latvia’s richest men] would be No. 1 in the world.”
THE MAN LOVES HIS GAME: John McEnroe so loves tennis that when he heard that Camilla,the Duchess of Cornwall, had put down her rackets, he immediately said, “You’re never too old to play.”
