I had never been a tennis aficionado as I have immersed myself greatly with badminton and is still hopelessly in love with it. But recent happenings has blown my mind and kindled a new passion for the sports, tennis that is.
I arrived home late and went straight to the fridge and grab one of the six-packs. As I turned the TV on, I began channel surfing and silently contemplated as to how stupid the shows being aired were that time and fondled the remote for quite some time. After few minutes of switching channels, I came across the coverage of the then on-going Australian open and the match was between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic (Men’s Singles Semis). And, from then on, it was more than two hours of intense and excellent tennis.
The game lasted for five grueling sets (it was third when I switched the TV on) of physical and mental intensity. Both guys deserved to win, that much I could say. I was initially rooting for Murray as he was the underdog (being #4 in the world) but as the match progressed, I sincerely believed that Djokovic was the better guy and he would prevail at the end. And he did. It was tough and yet he did. So he advanced for the finals and would be meeting Rafael Nadal, The King of Clay who beat Roger Federer in the semis.
Forty-eight hours later, it was a humid Melbourne night. Temperature was around 31˚C (88˚F) and everybody in Rod Laver Arena is pretty tense and anxiously waiting for the match to start. Djokovic was the first to serve. Wow, and it was almost, yet again, five hours of intense physical prowess and mental fortitude. Five matches, twice they deuced and at the latter part of the final set, two crucial errors by Nadal made the difference. And Novak won. My guy won!It was fun watching the game. My housemate and I had this little bet as she was rooting for Nadal (I think she finds him cute, that’s why). Thrash talk cannot be helped but uttered. For the love of the game, I say.
After the match was won, again just like in the semis, he, Novak lied on the court and took his shirt off. It was evident he was happy that he won the title (and the 103 MP that comes with it). But what really struck me the most was that he made the sign of the cross, thrice at that, showing that he believes in the existence of a Supreme Being. I admire that he acknowledges that without intervention from whoever God he believes in, he could not have won. It only shows the moral fiber he has as well. And for that I idolizes him more.Maybe I was just riding the bandwagon. Maybe I was just taking on the hype. But I know one thing for sure. Novak, truly, is my guy!
