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Howdy. Just checking in and still feeling a little out of the loop. I had a morning flight out of Paris, arrived in NYC at around three, scooped up Luke, headed for the farm to rescue Buck, who spent the past week-plus in the kennel. Then the three of us all slept in the "big bed," tired and happy, and today is simply spectacular - sharp, clear, right around 68-degrees so far - here in Andes.
Anyhow, I can't remember the last time we had back-to-back performances of the quality Franecesa Schiavone and Rafael Nadal delivered at Roland Garros. Anyone care to scroll back through the Roland Garros record book? Both champions put on a demonstration of the game played at an extremely high level, with an accompanying measure of courage and determination. Seriously, if I told you on Friday that the combined Roland Garros singles final would might have been inclined to guess: Okay, the women went 14-12 in the third, and Nadal won 6-1, 3-6, ret. Or something like that.
The next best thing to a rousing match is an outstanding performance by one or both players; it sounds like an oxymoron, but you can have a great match that isn't particularly competitive, score-wise. Sometimes, the nature of the engagement is compelling enough, in any number of ways, for it not to have to go the distance, sets-wise. Both of the matches, I thought, achieved that level, which seems to me a tribute that's not apt to make the losing finalists feel any better, but is nonetheless true. Was it just me, or were both finals driven by riveting subtexts?
!101677827 I must admit, though, Schiavone may have delivered the most enchanting, satisfying, and artful narrative I've ever witnessed at Roland Garros; it's right up there with the victories at Wimbledon by Goran Ivanisevic a decade ago, and Virginia Wade, the British woman who won at the All-England Club on the year of the club's 100th anniversary.
And now, it's on to the grass of which there is an abundance, waist-high already, in the meadow falling away from the window above the desk where I write this (wow, that sounds kind of writerly, right? I'm feeling a little like Richard Russo or somebody this morning, without even having to produce the work). I'm back in the office tomorrow, but blogging will be light this week - I have a few issues to deal with concerning Tennis magazines US Open issue. Hope you're all recovered and returned either back down - or back up - to earth. See y'all tomorrrow.
-- Pete
For more on the clay court game and Rafael Nadal's history in Paris, click here:
