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Saturday, January 28, 2006
Pages: The Wizard of Oz
By John Pages
Matchpoint
Martina Hingis never left tennis, right? Did she?
Oh yeah, she did. But the way Hingis played throughout this Australian Open, it’s as if the youngest ever world no.
1 (at 16 years old back in 1997) was never sidetracked by a foot injury. Hingis breezed through her first four matches; then in the quarterfinals against Kim Clijsters, she battled, finally succumbing in a tense three-setter. Her comeback is a thrill.
Women’s tennis can only become more popular. You’ve got Maria Sharapova (with the blue parachute dress), the down-and-out Williamses, lanky Ms. Lindsay D., and the two finalists — Justin Henin-Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo.
SEXIER. Will Hingis return to the very top spot? The top five? No and Yes.
Today, she’s slimmer, she’s more mature, and, after her “retirement,” she’s hungrier for victory. But, sad to say, she’s not that much stronger. I had hoped that her return would show her smacking 180-kph serves. I had hoped she’d put on muscles like her namesake, Martina Navratilova. Sorry, none. Her weakness as a teener is her weakness as a 25-year-old: her serve. It’s a pit-pat serve. Imagine the 5-foot-7 Hingis out-muscling the 6-foot-1 Sharapova? It’s a serve reserved for kittens in a game inhabited by tigers.
Two weeks ago, the no-shows of Marat Safin (defending champ), Rafael Nadal (world no. 2) and the ageless Andre Agassi made organizers and fans worried and unhappy. But as we head to this final weekend, it appears they were scarcely missed. Why? If you saw the games the past few days and nights, you couldn’t have missed the screams...
“MAR-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!”
“MAR-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!”
Just as Marcos, first-named Ferdinand, looted the treasures of the Philippines decades ago, there’s a new Marcos that has invaded Melbourne.
Marcos Baghdatis is a pirate. He looks like one: the headband that doubles as a bandana, that beard climbing all over his face. Marcos has rocked the ship nicknamed “Oz Open.” Uninvited, he’s invaded it. He’s looted the gold. And one by one, he’s stolen the treasures of the ship’s former captains: Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubijic and David Nalbandian.
His semifinal match the other night against Nalbandian was an epic battle. It was a shoot-out fought on the high ocean seas.
The waves struck hard and the winds blew left to right as the fight seesawed.
But with the fans screaming, “Mar-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!” and The Greeks—known for their sea prowess—waving the Greek flag, it was a Greek tragedy for Nalbandian.
“MAR-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!”
“MAR-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!”
Was this a football match? Yes, it was as Baghdatis was juggling the tiny yellow tennis ball off his shoes. It’s great to see a player with such a sunny disposition.
One moment he’s driving a forehand winner down the line; in another, he’s blowing kisses to his girlfriend.
MODEL. Ahh! His girlfriend. Have you seen her? Her name is Camille Neviere, an 18-year-old French model, I believe, of Tag Heuer. Baghdatis’ coach is Guillaume Payre and she’s the stepdaughter. (Now I know why he chose this particular coach!) This I can say: Of all treasures Marcos has stockpiled from the Oz Open, she’s the gem.
Graeme Mackinnon, Cebu’s football legend who’s back in his native Australia, texted me the other night while the match was ongoing, “He’s fun to watch but not as much fun as she (the girlfriend) is to watch.” Graeme, like you I’m married, but who says it’s a sin to rave over such a beauty?
She is such a beauty.
The big question remains: In the men’s finals tomorrow afternoon (around 4 p.m. over Star Sports), can Marcos Baghdatis beat Roger Federer?
No.
The Greek Pirate will be struck in the heart by the Swiss Knife.
But if it’s a contest of who’s got that gem of a girlfriend, you’ll hear this scream...
“MAR-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!”
“MAR-COS... BAGH-DA-TIS!”
(john@playhouse.edu.ph)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 28, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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