I have always liked watching tennis, especially these big Grand Slam tournaments, but Wimbledon is special to me.
For one - I've actually been. In summer 2002, while I was living in London, I went for a day with a friend of mine. It wasn't a particularly nice weather day so we spent a lot of the day racing the rain. We we were poor graduate students so we didn't pay for fancy seats. We had the equivalent of "grounds" pass where you could experience the whole thing and get into any court that had General Admissions seats. We did get to see Martina Navratalova in a mixed doubles match, and Anna Kournekova in a doubles match as well. It was pretty fun!
Secondly - after my baby was born in 2009, I spent the first two weeks of her life watching Wimbledon at all hours of the day. Melanie Oudin was the big story that year coming out of no where as a little Cinderella.
Finally - back in 1999 my family was getting together for a reunion and I was staying at my grandma's apartment, on her couch. As a result I ended up getting up very early in the morning when she got up. I remember sitting on her couch, eating grape nuts with blueberries and watching Wimbledon. I can't precisely remember who we watched but those were the Sampras/Agassi days.
Bottom line is, if you're new to tennis watching - I'd say give this a try . . .it can be tense and super exciting. And if you happen to find it totally NOT exciting, it makes for a really great sport to nap with.
All this said, I admit I was actually watching the Pirates/Red Sox game yesterday afternoon and NOT watching Wimbledon. GASP! Too bad the Red Sox couldn't have been swept right out of town . . .but as Meatloaf says, 2 outta 3 ain't bad!
4 comments:
I really haven't given tennis much of a chance... the last time I recall actually watching it was at our house on Braintree Court right before the house (and all TVs) got struck by lightning! I do, however, spend most of July watching the Tour de France, so its similar in length and intensity! Also good to sleep to.
Which do you prefer?--men's or women's tennis?
I prefer women's to be honest. It could be as straightforwardly simple as that I'm a woman so I can appreciate the physical display in a different way than watching the men.
Truthfully though I like that the women play fewer sets. It makes it go a little faster. Men's matches can drag on forever. Personally I think men and women should all play 5 sets throughout the tournament and only go to 7 in a final if it's needed to break a tie.
T - I wonder though has all the recent scandal of doping in professional racing has dampened your love of it?
Does any part of you fear you are probably watching a cheater win each stage/day/race?
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