FIRST, lest I turn into an Ironman (a man who irons clothes on his day-off Sunday), I’d like to greet the most important person in my life. Happy Birthday, Ga!
We’ve been each other’s best friend, running mate, travel guide, lover, Spotify-listening companion, tickling partner and let’s-go-eat-out date for half of our lives. Thanks to the upbringing of her incredible parents — the late Jack Mendez and the super-lovable Malu Gayanilo — I am so, so, so, so blessed to be partners-for-life to an undeniably buotan and beautiful human being named Jasmin. Both outside and in, she is beautiful.
Jana and I thank the Lord for the gift that she is to us — and for how Jasmin makes us better and more loving and closer to Him. Love you, Ga!
MURRAY. Back to business: In men’s tennis, the world’s No. 1 singles and doubles players carry the same family name. It’s Andy and Jamie.
Who would have believed that after dominating the year’s first half, Novak Djokovic would collapse. He won the Australian Open and the French Open. Talks of a Grand Slam were murmured. But, no, he stumbled in Wimbledon, got booted-out by Del Potro at the Olympics, fell in New York and, just the other Sunday at the ATP Finals, lost to the home-crowd favorite, Andy Murray.
“We used to play against each other all of the time pretty much until we were like 12 to 14,” Murray said. Prior to his win at the O2 Arena, Murray had lost 24 of the 34 times they’ve met. But the Serb was not his usual superb self. I watched a 9-minute highlight of the 6-3, 6-4 drubbing and Djokovic missed an easy putaway smash and another easy forehand volley. He tallied 30 unforced errors. It’s obvious that after he won the only major title that eluded him (in Paris), Djokovic’s motivation waned. Not Murray’s.
The 6-foot-3 netter from Glasgow, Scotland amassed an impressive string of victories the past four months that included Wimbledon, the Olympics, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Paris and the ATP Finals.
I’ve had a chance to watch Murray up-close at the French Open last year and at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
While he’s rock-steady and ultra-fit and mentally-strong, he is, admittedly, boring to watch. He’s the opposite of Roger Federer, with his flamboyance and grace to hit unbelievable shots. (Speaking of Rog, he tweeted this after the Scot’s win, “We have a new (emoji of a crown) in town. Congrats Sir @andy_murray.”) Murray doesn’t also possess Rafa Nadal’s pump-fisting heroics. Murray is your quiet, obedient, no-flairs A-1 student. He doesn’t exude charisma, both off- and on-court.
Still, I’m ecstatic that he’s reached the pinnacle. Since 2009, he’s been (on and off) the world’s second-ranked player. Can you imagine being the groomsman for seven years and never kissing and winning over the bride? Now, Andy is The Man.
Speaking of coaches, an interesting footnote is the rivalry of Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker. In their prime, Lendl (Murray’s coach) and Becker (Djokovic’s) clashed for Wimbledon crowns. Today, they continue as adversaries while their pupils do battle.
ATP. A welcome revelation appeared this week: For the first time in the men’s tour’s 44-year rankings, 10 different nations occupy the Top 10: Scotland (Murray), Serbia (Djokovic), Canada (Raonic), Switzerland (Wawrinka), Japan (Nishikori), Croatia (Cilic), France (Monfils), Austria (Thiem), Spain (Nadal) and the Czech Republic (Berdych).
Any Pinoys in this future list? Ha-ha. This is as unlikely to happen as Peping Cojuangco, despite three dismal terms as POC head, giving in for the good of Phil. sports and saying he won’t vie for a fourth term.
TV. For us here in the Philippines, what’s frustrating is that none of these ATP and WTA events are shown on cable TV. In previous years, Balls or Fox Sports would air the matches. Not anymore. At least, the four Grand Slam tournaments are shown without miss. And, thanks to YouTube, 10-minute highlights (minus the slow breaks in
between points) are available for tennis fans.
(john@pages.ph)