Wimbledon 2007

(This blog appears in my Friendster blog, tabula rasa undone ... my not so explored passion, more than two years ago.)

6 July 2007

Wimbledon 2007

Filed under: Justine and tennis — cristyjones @ 8:17 pm

I was ready to delete a name in my Wimbledon homepage, I wasn’t paying that much attention after 10 minutes into the game, I was so sure of the outcome - only to be proven otherwise.

The first set was played the way it ought to be played. Magnificent one-handed backhand passes, beautiful ground strokes, fantastic footwork, superb drop shots. All these from the world number one. And then a see-saw of a second set which I should have known had the makings of a comeback. And now I know why: Pierce Brosnan - 007. Marion Bartoli of France, world number 18, caught a glimpse of him cheering for her in the stands and she continued making her comeback all through the third set. The result? The greatest shock of the tournament: Justine Henin, my player, world number one, the crowd’s favorite to win, the people’s (and the papers’) best bet to hoist that Wimbledon trophy this year, bundled out of Wimbledon 2007. How unbelievable can that be? Oh Pierce, you should have ducked!!!

A really exciting fortnight of tennis it has been. Although I was just following the proceedings online but this is the first time that I would go to sleep at 3 or 4 in the morning just to finish watching Justine’s match for the day (merci to www.channelsurfing.net). Thank God it’s still summer break for me, huh?

In the end, the better player on the court during the Wimbledon 2007 Ladies Singles Semi-Finals won. That’s tennis. That’s sports. That’s life. It drove home an obvious point to me: never write off an underdog because underdogs have nothing to lose.

So, at the end of an exciting two weeks for me – I am happy. Oh, how can that be when my player just got trounced out of a grand slam by an underdog? Because the underdog - Marion - produced her best tennis and deserved to win. Does that mean that I would lose interest in the finals now? Honestly, yes. And no one can blame me. It would have been thrilling to see Justine and Venus fight in the finals: one diminutive and feisty, the other all about power; one mentally and physically tough, the other hampered by injuries. And that’s Justine – Venus, a’ight?

I eventually deleted Marion’s name in my Wimbledon homepage along with Serena’s. I changed it for Roger, Rafa, Richard, and the oh so guapo Novak. Of course, Justine is there – she occupies the first box as always. Exciting fortnight of tennis, huh? You bet! And what happens to the ladies’ world number one now? She’ll continue her reign as world number one. She’ll go home, feel bad for a few days, and be back all fresh and play her matches en route to the US Open. Don’t forget that during all these, she’ll be surrounded by her supporters and family whom she just recently reunited with after her marriage breakup and the accident of her elder brother. Full of drama? You bet!

Whew! The wettest Wimbledon tournament so far – the famous English summer weather really had a kick! And oh, the final score?

Justine Henin (1) BELGIUM 6 5 1

Marion Bartoli (18) FRANCE 1 7 6

How elusive can the Venus Rosewater Dish be for Justine? It’s proven to be very elusive indeed. Wimbledon – the only grand slam that she needs to complete her collection of grand slam trophies and join the elite in women’s tennis when it comes to winning grand slams.

But in a way, she won her “special” Wimbledon. In the quarter finals against the second best grass court player: Serena Williams, something only Justine can do.

In conclusion, Wimbledon 2007 was an unforgettable achievement for the greatest grass court player in the world, Justine Henin.

Wimbledon 2008 just might be THE year. And who knows this time, I’ll make it?

Allez Justine! Tu es mon heroine.

(Check Justine’s website at www.justine-henin.be and you’ll know why she’s not only the best on court but off-court as well.)