Steve,
Well it wasn’t very long, but I did get my first taste of Centre Court tennis at Wimbledon. I watched most of the first set and change of the Federer-Gasquet match before rain crashed the party. It was still fun while it lasted, especially because of the quality of some of the points. The crowd seemed to know they were watching a match-up many would expect to see in the second week, so they treated each stroke with an awed hush. It made the distinctive echo coming off the players’ racquets that much more dramatic.
I know you were here last year – what are your impressions of the Centre Court? In my opinion it’s not as festive as the Bull Ring (Court 1) at Roland Garros, or as intimate as the Grandstand at the U.S. Open, but there’s a sense of majesty here that makes it quite special.
As you know, Federer will better Borg’s all-time streak for consecutive matches won on a grass court with a victory today. He jumped on Gasquet early, getting his break and then serving out the set. The second was 1-2 on serve, before the match was halted. At a press conference before the tournament, Federer mentioned he didn’t think it appropriate to be given a trophy or have a ceremony if he indeed breaks the record. He didn’t like what was done in Paris for Nadal when he broke Vilas’ consecutive clay court match streak. Federer said you should celebrate championships, not first-round wins. The man does like his etiquette.
Federer also commented how he sees a lot of his younger self in Gasquet. Do you agree? When I saw Gasquet play Nadal last year in the third round of the French Open I had the same impression. He lost rather easily, but I felt when Gasquet’s game matured he would actually have more weapons and be more of a threat on fast surfaces than Nadal. Gasquet definitely possesses some of the shot-making genius that Federer has made his stock-in-trade. He also is a bit temperamental and inconsistent like Roger was when somewhat green. But Gasquet seems to lack that quiet storm that has always brewed inside Federer. More than anything he did with a racquet, it was when Federer addressed his issues between the ears that he raised his game to a championship level. I think that’s Gasquet’s task. Otherwise I could see him becoming more like Xavier Malisse (who happens to be winning his first round match) – a great talent whose career, while impressive, never quite matched expectations.
With all the rain it’s been a slow day. The biggest excitement in the pressroom came when an Italian player was awarded a game-winning penalty kick in that country’s World Cup win over Australia. Looked like a flop to me. Then again, when doesn’t it look like a flop? I can’t enjoy a sport where the better actors win. This guy was breathed on, but you would think he took a bullet in the leg. And the Italian journalists reactions are as melodramatic as the players from that country. Slapping their desks, shouting at the screens, crazily twirling their pasta (ok, I made that last part up), it’s beyond entertaining.
Anyway, in my efforts to stay busy I ambled over to the NBC studio to pick something up from a producer. I hope to spend some more time there later in the week to see how they go about putting on the broadcast and seeing how they decide which matches to cover. While I was there today, Ted Robinson walked in and I introduced myself to him. Big guy and much taller than I would’ve guessed. As far as tennis broadcasters go, I think he’s one of the better ones. Sometimes it doesn’t work when announcers from other sports moonlight in tennis (I’m talking to you, Marv Albert), but Robinson has a feel for the game. I’m not sure, but it wouldn’t surprise if he’s a player.
They’re “deflating the covers” at the moment, but it’s started showering again. My first day at Wimbledon was more or less a tease. I’ll take a rain check and hope for some extended action tomorrow. Unlike today, the forecast thankfully doesn’t call for building an ark.
Got dinner planned tonight with my old high school buddy, and Maria Sharapova agent, Max Eisenbud. Don’t know if he’ll give me any good gossip, but at the very least he should pick up the check.
I’ll be in touch.
JL
Jon,
I guess you got a taste of the real, rainy Wimbledon, frustrating as that may be. I remember the first trip I took to London, the weather was on in the cab. It went something like, "Showers this afternoon and tonight, followed by drizzle tomorrow morning, then there will be very heavy rain through the rest of the day." I wondered why they even bothered.
I woke up to—I guessed it—ESPN’s first of what will surely be many Andre Agassi tributes. Dick Enberg did have one good line, though: He said that in 1992, when Agassi first won Wimbledon, no one would have guessed that in the future he would prove to have so much “brainpower.” Kind of an insult, I guess, but true, too.
Centre Court has to be my favorite court anywhere, at least from the press area. While the ticket-holder’s seats are incredibly small and tightly packed—how else could they get 13,000 people into that space?—you can relax a little in the press benches. They’ve also got a great corner view, where you can just see some of the sky inside the huge awning that circles the arena. Terrific boxed-in acoustics, too—the ball coming off the racquet sounds huge, but there are no squeaking sneakers on the grass. Overall, it feels like a theater, which makes a striking contrast with the clay events, which are held in wide-open, dusty coliseums.
In the first game today, I thought Gasquet might be going into his Microwave mode. Like old Vinnie Johnson of the Pistons, no one heats up like Gasquet. That’s how he beat Federer in Monte Carlo last year, with a series of jumping forehands and backhands that went for spectacular winners. I was also thinking, as you were, that he reminds me of Federer five years ago. I don’t think his serve is quite as reliable as a weapon (though he does hit a surprising number of aces), and he’s not as tall or physically imposing as Federer (another pro who’s bigger in person), but he’s got the same kind of shot-making ability.
Gasquet does have an inner fire—ask the U.S. Open line judge whom he hit with a racquet a couple years ago—but he has yet to fully harness it. Federer was also a racquet-thrower as a kid who became almost too tame for a while; Gasquet may be in that stage right now. He’ll have to learn to use his energy in a positive way, the way Fed has. One thing that will hopefully keep Gasquet from being the next Malisse is that there have been such high expectations placed on him since he was a kid—he was on the cover of a French tennis mag. when he was 9 or something. I think he’ll do his best to at least try to live up to them. Either way, he can be a thrilling player to watch—love that leaping forehand on the run.
The World Cup was starting while I was in Paris, and there were huge groups of people with their faces painted, jumping and chanting in unison on the metro. It was a little intimidating—I didn’t know that I could be scared of a group of Swedish people. I guess any European thrown into the parking lot before a Philadelphia Eagles game might feel the same way.
That’s about it from here. ESPN showed the Fed-Roddick final from last year. I have to say it was a little weird to see Andy playing such a big match. It seems like years ago when he contended for these things. It’d be nice to have him back.
For a Bullring view, check out Wimbledon’s version, Court 2, otherwise known as the Graveyard. You get top players on a tiny court. But be careful. Last year I saw Serena Williams lose there. I was standing in the front row in the very corner seat. Serena walked off the court in my direction. I didn’t realize it but I had my notebook and pen out in front of me. Serena looked at me, thought I was asking for an autograph, and gave me a quick, disgusted shake of her head. I wanted to say, “No, no, Serena, I didn’t want your autograph, really, I’m a reporter…” But she was moving way too fast.
Best,
Tignor