Hang it up

Back in 2004, B and I won the two Tennis Canada seats at centre court in Wimbledon for the final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.  When I say "won", I am sure it was rigged as a reward for B's many years of volunteering and promoting junior tennis in both Toronto and Ottawa.  We were asked to submit our names for the Tennis Canada draw and when the call came, the woman said, "Are you sitting down?"  I replied I was and she then told me B had won the seats in the men's final!  I nearly dropped!  The head of Tennis Ontario at the time had been a kid at the Rideau Tennis Club for whom B had raised money on several occasions so he could travel to tournaments; obviously, he hadn't forgotten.  Actually, we hadn't won them.  We had won the right to fly ourselves over there and pay full price for the privilege.  But it was well worth it. 

So, off we went to London and Wimbledon.  What an amazing experience!  Trying Pimm's for the first time, I decided I did not like it.  Too sweet for me, but perfect for the sugar-loving Brits.  However, the strawberries and cream were divine.  Taking our seats, we were asked by the debencher-holder next to us if we were the "Canadians".  The poor guy obviously had had to suffer through many Canadians in those seats over the years and in deference, we tried not to bother him too much.

The thing that struck me most was how quiet it was.  Watching on television, it's busy with lots of commentators talking about this and that and everything that's ever happened at Wimbledon.  When the ball was in play, you could have heard a pin drop.  The only sound was when the point was made.  The other remarkable thing was that there were enough washrooms and no lineups!  How rare is that?!  (I often wonder what we are doing in there, it takes us so long to do our business?  But that's another blog.)  As to ushers, no rent-a-cops there.  All are young members of the army, air force or navy dressed smartly in uniform.  How did they handle two "over-refreshed" young female guests near us?  An unmarked car simply drove up, into which they were politely ushered and driven out.  That's how. 

As Wimbledon gets underway 14 years after Federer won his first back then, I wonder what has happened to tennis -- especially Canadian?  Once again, the excruciatingly boring Raonic is injured.  Isn't he always?  The Globe and Mail reports that the 'white noise' player of the game has been "hampered by a meniscus issue in his right knee".  Apparently, he's also dealing with a "right pectoral muscle injury that had forced him to withdraw from Queen's Club two weeks ago."

His problem is he is simply too tall for the game -- especially on grass, where the bounce is fast and low.  He can't get down that far without tearing or ripping some body part or other.  That's why I say, give it up.  The guy contributes neither excitement, nor victory and is now languishing at #93 in the rankings.  Now, Denis Shapavalov!  That's a different matter!  Even if ousted in the early rounds, he is still a marvel to watch (See "Let's get out the beads," 19-09-2017).  And of course, there's poor old Eugenie Bouchard. 

Enough said.