July 8, 2011
Spent the day in Bern watching the first singles matches between Switzerland and Portugal. This post is going to run more like a stream of ideas as I'm dead tired.
There is nothing like seeing Roger play live, especially indoors. When the hall goes silent at the start of a point you hear Roger playing. He brings you into the point, into his world from the second the first ball is struck until the point is over. And then you remember to breathe again.
Rarely does anyone talk about the sound of tennis and when it's live it's just different. Kind of like how you remember the face of a friend. Without a picture, you remember the face the last time you saw it. If you have a picture you remember that image. Not the same experience.
There are nuances that you only get when you hear it yourself and they stick with you forever. The sound of tennis. And what makes it so fantastic is that Roger rarely makes any noise at all. An occasional squeak from his shoes gripping the surface and without that, you'd think he was running around in house slippers. Once in awhile you hear his diaphragm collapse as he finishes his serve. Or the C'MON when he means business. But what sticks with you is the sound of the ball as it comes off his racket. That flat forehand is LOUD. And so is his backhand slice. THWACK. You can close your eyes and know from the sound of the ball off Roger's racket if its deep, short, a winner or out. He takes you into the point with him and it's an intimate, compelling experience.
There is nothing like seeing Roger play live, especially indoors. When the hall goes silent at the start of a point you hear Roger playing. He brings you into the point, into his world from the second the first ball is struck until the point is over. And then you remember to breathe again.
Rarely does anyone talk about the sound of tennis and when it's live it's just different. Kind of like how you remember the face of a friend. Without a picture, you remember the face the last time you saw it. If you have a picture you remember that image. Not the same experience.
There are nuances that you only get when you hear it yourself and they stick with you forever. The sound of tennis. And what makes it so fantastic is that Roger rarely makes any noise at all. An occasional squeak from his shoes gripping the surface and without that, you'd think he was running around in house slippers. Once in awhile you hear his diaphragm collapse as he finishes his serve. Or the C'MON when he means business. But what sticks with you is the sound of the ball as it comes off his racket. That flat forehand is LOUD. And so is his backhand slice. THWACK. You can close your eyes and know from the sound of the ball off Roger's racket if its deep, short, a winner or out. He takes you into the point with him and it's an intimate, compelling experience.
For as many times and as long as I've watched Roger play, the elegance of his game remains the most beautiful I've ever seen. By far. His technique is perfect and, what's more, so is his efficiency. Not a wasted movement. Clean. Effortless - that being less effort rather than more and never to be confused with no effort. ;)
The crowd was insane. Half the stadium was a sea of red. What are these poor souls going to do the day he retires? For their sakes, I hope Roger remains a public figure. The last person I saw adored by the public as much as Roger was former Pope John Paul. Roger means a lot to his fans globally and, most especially, the Swiss who showed unrestrained affection for him today.
Lynette
Lynette Federer is a great tennis mom. There she and Robert were, sitting side by side in the first row back from one end of the court, watching their boy play tennis in front of a sold out stadium. And they were there for both singles matches and supported Stan as much as Roger. They devoted their entire day to Swiss Davis Cup.
The crowd was insane. Half the stadium was a sea of red. What are these poor souls going to do the day he retires? For their sakes, I hope Roger remains a public figure. The last person I saw adored by the public as much as Roger was former Pope John Paul. Roger means a lot to his fans globally and, most especially, the Swiss who showed unrestrained affection for him today.
Lynette
Lynette Federer is a great tennis mom. There she and Robert were, sitting side by side in the first row back from one end of the court, watching their boy play tennis in front of a sold out stadium. And they were there for both singles matches and supported Stan as much as Roger. They devoted their entire day to Swiss Davis Cup.
At some point during Stan's match I walked around the arena to check it out. I noticed that a young boy managed to pull Lynette aside and got her to give him her autograph. She spent a fair amount of time, speaking with him in French. A completely decent lady.
And as Roger played, she and Robert would call out words of encouragement to him. Once a tennis mom, always a tennis mom. She should write a book!
Roger's Game
Roger's game was technically sound. He rarely came forward. If I had one concern, it would be the height of the ball off his drop shots both from the baseline and volleys. He gave his opponent enough time to run down the shots and hit winners past him.
I noticed that Roger needed a squat/stretch early in the 2nd set after an hour of play. Probably residual aches and pains. What Roger really needs is a good vacation. He's got about 4 weeks before Canada. If he plans to get to Canada the week before the tournament starts, and he trains for two weeks before he goes to Canada, it means he's got time for a one week vacation. NOT ENOUGH. He needs to take as much as time as he needs to be as fresh as he was when he reached Paris in June. If he can't get in sufficient rest before Canada, he should plan to play Cincy and the USO only. I hope he can find some beach where he can lie in the sun and go brain dead. If he can. During Stan's match he was jumping up and down from his chair to go and talk to the suits around the event. And when he was in the chair watching Stan, he was talking practically non stop with Marco or Stefan. The guy might consider flipping the switch to the OFF position for a bit. Like mother like son or what?
Acoustic Annoyance
The arena in Bern used for DC this weekend was built for ice hockey. All I know about the sport I learned from "Slap Shot" and the documentary about the college kids who beat the Russian pros and went on to take the gold medal at the Olympic Games at Lake Placid. Both excellent films. But I digress.
The only time the arena was tolerable was during a point. And that's it. UNBELIEVABLE. And the worse part came during the last set of Roger's match when some joker in the control booth starting pushing a button that produced a sound like the QE2 was setting sail.
Heinz Gunthardt interviewed Roger post match in Swiss German. I couldn't hear a word of it but my friend told me Roger was complaining about the sound. How he managed to think his way through a single point, let alone a match, with all the noise is beyond me. He's a genius.
And as Roger played, she and Robert would call out words of encouragement to him. Once a tennis mom, always a tennis mom. She should write a book!
Roger's Game
Roger's game was technically sound. He rarely came forward. If I had one concern, it would be the height of the ball off his drop shots both from the baseline and volleys. He gave his opponent enough time to run down the shots and hit winners past him.
I noticed that Roger needed a squat/stretch early in the 2nd set after an hour of play. Probably residual aches and pains. What Roger really needs is a good vacation. He's got about 4 weeks before Canada. If he plans to get to Canada the week before the tournament starts, and he trains for two weeks before he goes to Canada, it means he's got time for a one week vacation. NOT ENOUGH. He needs to take as much as time as he needs to be as fresh as he was when he reached Paris in June. If he can't get in sufficient rest before Canada, he should plan to play Cincy and the USO only. I hope he can find some beach where he can lie in the sun and go brain dead. If he can. During Stan's match he was jumping up and down from his chair to go and talk to the suits around the event. And when he was in the chair watching Stan, he was talking practically non stop with Marco or Stefan. The guy might consider flipping the switch to the OFF position for a bit. Like mother like son or what?
Acoustic Annoyance
The arena in Bern used for DC this weekend was built for ice hockey. All I know about the sport I learned from "Slap Shot" and the documentary about the college kids who beat the Russian pros and went on to take the gold medal at the Olympic Games at Lake Placid. Both excellent films. But I digress.
The only time the arena was tolerable was during a point. And that's it. UNBELIEVABLE. And the worse part came during the last set of Roger's match when some joker in the control booth starting pushing a button that produced a sound like the QE2 was setting sail.
Heinz Gunthardt interviewed Roger post match in Swiss German. I couldn't hear a word of it but my friend told me Roger was complaining about the sound. How he managed to think his way through a single point, let alone a match, with all the noise is beyond me. He's a genius.
