Two Tartars
Marat 2003, originally uploaded by Koosama.
For this French Open I decided to make like a tennis player and be superstitious. Like all sports, tennis is full of rituals and strange beliefs: lucky underwear, amulets, not getting up during the timeout until your opponent has left his seat, lining up your water bottles so the labels are all facing the same way. I did not say a word about somebody’s chances, in case I jinxed him. Weeks ago I said I would root for Richard Gasquet, and I meant it only half-seriously, but he still withdrew from the tournament on account of injury. I did not discuss the matches with anyone, and I’m not watching the men’s final, which is on right now.
I quietly cheered for Dinara Safina, who was on a winning streak that saw her dispose of Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova. It can’t be easy being Marat’s sister–from birth she’s probably heard people say, “You’re Marat’s sister?” followed by a significant pause as questioner ponders the vagaries of genetics. They look alike, but look at him. Then he became a star for winning grand slams and being nuts, and she was mid-level in the Russian girl invasion. So she made it to her first grand slam final, and there’s no reason why she can’t win majors. Post-Henin, with the Williams sisters no longer playing full-time, women’s tennis is an open field. Will Marat and Dinara be the Donnie and Marie of professional tennis? The Osmondovs.
2323h. Ha! I was right not to watch the men’s final! Aiieee, straight sets, bagel in the third, so I spared myself some hyperacidity. And I did not jinx my chicken, though it could be argued that not watching was the jinx (Superstition being opposite of logic). Explanation by superstition: The Fed is chasing slam number 13.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
June 8th, 2008 at 23:35
A hardly surprising result. The only question I had before the match was how many games Fed will win. On the bright side… goodbye clay, hello grass.
June 9th, 2008 at 03:25
she’s quite mental too. few years from now she’s gonna be sick and tired of the international media bringing up her brother on interviews and it’s going to drive her more nuts. i think im in love.
June 9th, 2008 at 08:05
Excerpts from post-match interview …
Q. Do you still think you can win Roland Garros?
R. Federer: Yes.
Q. Are you sure?
R. Federer: Well, if you want me to answer no if that makes you happy, then no. Choose the answer. I said yes. (laughter.)
Q. Is it more difficult to lose on such a score, or do you just accept you have a guy who can do just anything on the court?
R. Federer: Well, right now I’d say it’s easier to lose this way as today, because all along the match you realize that there is nothing you can do. You’re not going to win.
I think it was the same thing for him, and this is probably why his reaction was not as intense as it usually is. That’s because of the result. It’s always more difficult when you lose when you really could have won. Today I lost, and I lost, clearly.
Q. Imagine it’s 2009 and this little fairy comes to you and says, You’re going to win one tournament, but you have to choose: Wimbledon or Roland Garros. Which one?
R. Federer: I don’t want to answer these stupid questions anymore. They’re too stupid.
Q. But why?
R. Federer: Because I want to win at everything. I have no preference.
June 10th, 2008 at 00:30
Dinara Safina hisses and curses, and hits things with her racquet when pissed. Adorable. She resembles a college crush. The winner at Roland Garros, Ana Ivanovic is sooooo gorgeous, I developed a renewed interest in women’s tennis. With Maria out, Ana filled in the babe vacuum splendidly. I don’t care if she’s just part of the “Russian babes of tennis”, or if she wins or lose. Just watching this fine young lady on the clay is such a joy to the eye. Now I am researching the meaning of the word “love”. Also deuce, umpire, referee, break-serve, backhand, forehand,drop shot, advantage,fault, and reverse somersault (that’s a joke).