* !FedCup
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By Jackie Roe, TW Social Director
Hiya, TWibe. Still hungover from the Aussie Open? Before we close the chapter on Melbourne, take a moment and read TW Poet Laureate Mme Highpockets’s ode to the AO (AOde?). Fabulous effort as always, Highpockets!**
The Falcon Unleashed
As floods in Australia left a continent reeling,
We wondered if tennis could help with the healing.
The players said yes and assembled en masse,
And raised a few dollars and did it with class.
From Queensland, the images filled up the screen;
The loss of life stunning in a land lush and green.
Then the tournament started and the waters receded,
And we argued about who was properly seeded.
We stay up much later back here in the States;
We sacrifice sleep for blogs and updates.
We awaken at three to catch the last match,
And we walk around groggy and strangely detached.
We soak up the colors—the contrasting blues,
The ball kids in yellow, Fernando’s pink shoes.
The year’s first Grand Slam is a feast for the eyes,
When you’re buried in snow and driving’s unwise.
The off-season’s short, but the men were prepared.
Feli shed his shirt so his abs would be bared.
The press hunted stories like wolves in a pack;
As a Rafa Slam beckoned and DelPo came back.
Then Nalby beat Lleyton in a battle so splendid
That the audible sighs in the stands were extended.
Their match set the stage for some thrillers to come,
As Gilles proved wily and Tipsy undone.
DelPo lost early—his wrist’s still not right,
And the weather in Melbourne got chilly at night.
By the second week, sadly, the Yanks were all gone,
And the Aussies were too, and it just seemed so wrong.
Young Tomic impressed as the Aussie’s best hope;
He took it to Rafa, but Rafa said nope.
Alex astounded with his speed and aplomb,
And then there was Milos whose serve was a bomb.
Tomas and Stan lost to Djoker and Fed,
And Rafa’s big moment was sent off to bed.
His movement was hampered, but no violins:
The harder the losses, the sweeter the wins.
So good to see David Ferrer take his place
In the semis with Murray near the end of the race.
He shows such intensity, purpose and skill,
And to watch him keep fighting was really a thrill.
What happened to Roger? He just caught a buzz:
A buzz saw called Novak, who then met “The Muzz,”
Though Roger was Roger, Novak was better,
And the two of them played an inspired three-setter.
When their man won the semis, the Brits started tweeting,
And Murray prepared for another slam meeting
With a childhood friend he had dispatched before,
But not on this day—Novak showed him the door.
Murray was artful, but what he did best
Was to showcase “The Falcon,” who passed every test.
He stood on that baseline and dictated play,
And Andy said no one could beat him today.
It’s great to see players mature through the years;
They learn their best lessons through trials and tears.
So good onya, boys, you’re storming the gates
Of the two at the top, who are already greats.
And with that, we’ll bid adieu to the first Slam of the year. Thanks to Mme Highpockets for sharing her talent with us, yet again. Brava!
This week’s Deuce Club is just a check-in; it doesn't really feel like the time for an elaborate topic. Are you guys keeping a low profile now that we’re at a tennis rest stop or did you jump right into this week’s (streamless) action? Will you be following the Fed Cup ties? I’m one of the lazy ones, having spent the early part of the week in a daze, doing whatever I could to nullify the brain activity from the AO fortnight (e.g., watching back-to-back-to-back Planet Earth episodes). Ah, and then I had that mammoth winter storm to reckon with, the third largest to hit Chicago since snow records began. That meant being holed up in my house for a good day and a half, which then meant . . . more Planet Earth episodes. Who else has felt Mother Nature's wrath this winter? Any horror stories? Lingering damage? (I hope not.)
I’d be remiss not to mention the Super Bowl (I mean, THE SUPER BOWL!!!), which takes place on Sunday. Packers vs. Steelers—who are you guys rooting for and/or predicting to win? I have to admit, I don’t care much for either team and I’m still bitter about the Bears falling short, so I couldn’t care less about the result, as long as we get a decent game Then again, I’m partial to Aaron Rodgers, which makes me lean toward the Pack. Total blasphemy from a Chicagoan, I know . . . guess I’ll count on you guys to make the decision for me. Not sure what Pete has planned over the weekend, but feel free to use this space to discuss SB XLV.
That's all for now. Have a good weekend, TWibe!