Sports Thread #1 for 6/7/09: The Unusual' s Glorious Gift
From tennis.com
Fitting.
That's the one word that is needed to describe what transpired today in Roland Garros on Court Philippe Chartier, a court whose name today felt like it didn't have its usual name. Because it was an unusual day during an unusual fortnight on the Parisian red clay.
Sometimes, the unusual presents despair, confusion, and even an encumbrance because it alters the normal rhythm of usual events. But there was nothing unwanted about Roger Federer's unusual moment today.
Because it was fitting.
Fitting that Andre Agassi was there to present him with the trophy. Fitting that a rainy day, not seen before in the previous three years he played on Finals Sunday on Chartier, was the forecast that the weather validated. Fitting that Bill Gates was in the crowd (and throw Tony Parker and Eva Longeria in there as well). Fitting that Bjorn Borg witnessed it, and fitting that, well, the unusual Robin Soderling was the unusual opponent for this at the time, 13 time grand Slam champion .
Now the last item may not seem like it really belonged on this day, but it did belong. Because Soderling defeated the man, the only man, who many thought would make Federer's first French Open title legitimate, Rafael Nadal. The man that pulled one of the greatest shocks in the sports history had every right to be here, no matter how the question, "Is Robin Soderling actually in this Final, let alone he actually beat Nadal?" popped up throughout most heads. But it could have even been that nutcase who popped up out of nowhere in alarmingly easy fashion in the second set as Federer's opponent, and yet, nothing would take him away from reaching that special feeling.
(And even that fool's shocking moment was fitting as well.)
It highlighted how Roger Federer wasn't going to let anything stop him from this fitting occasion that was his. An occasion where some thought after he was utterly demolished last year on this court that he may never get again. An occasion where his Wimbledon throne was stripped from him by Nadal in the most gut-wrenching, heart broken of fashions. And even after winning his 5th straight US Open over the likes of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, his defeat at the Australian Open at the hands of Nadal left him with tears sprawling down his face. "This is killing me" resonating from the pain he felt after losing to the Spaniard in Melbourne this year. It was supposed to be a fitting occasion that Nadal, someday, somehow, would be the proper way for him to win this title.
But thank God that isn't the case, because sports wouldn't be fitting if the occasions went by the "supposed to be's" and "this is how it should happen's", let alone life.
You know, those cliche "usuals."
Soderling lining up on the opposite side of the court today was fitting, no matter how much of a peculiar guy, jerk, or inconsistent talent he was in the past (and may still be, despite being exemplary in defeat today with his gestures and post match comments). And where its usual to see him win everywhere else, it was truly more sweeter to see this ambassador, gentleman, and fiery, cool competitor at the same time win at the one place where winning to him wasn't the norm.
An unusual opponent, on an unusual day, and a fitting end. Sometimes the unusual is what is needed. For Roger Federer and many of us around the world, the unusual produced something special that all of us will never forget.
Fitting.
That's the one word that is needed to describe what transpired today in Roland Garros on Court Philippe Chartier, a court whose name today felt like it didn't have its usual name. Because it was an unusual day during an unusual fortnight on the Parisian red clay.
Sometimes, the unusual presents despair, confusion, and even an encumbrance because it alters the normal rhythm of usual events. But there was nothing unwanted about Roger Federer's unusual moment today.
Because it was fitting.
Fitting that Andre Agassi was there to present him with the trophy. Fitting that a rainy day, not seen before in the previous three years he played on Finals Sunday on Chartier, was the forecast that the weather validated. Fitting that Bill Gates was in the crowd (and throw Tony Parker and Eva Longeria in there as well). Fitting that Bjorn Borg witnessed it, and fitting that, well, the unusual Robin Soderling was the unusual opponent for this at the time, 13 time grand Slam champion .
Now the last item may not seem like it really belonged on this day, but it did belong. Because Soderling defeated the man, the only man, who many thought would make Federer's first French Open title legitimate, Rafael Nadal. The man that pulled one of the greatest shocks in the sports history had every right to be here, no matter how the question, "Is Robin Soderling actually in this Final, let alone he actually beat Nadal?" popped up throughout most heads. But it could have even been that nutcase who popped up out of nowhere in alarmingly easy fashion in the second set as Federer's opponent, and yet, nothing would take him away from reaching that special feeling.
(And even that fool's shocking moment was fitting as well.)
It highlighted how Roger Federer wasn't going to let anything stop him from this fitting occasion that was his. An occasion where some thought after he was utterly demolished last year on this court that he may never get again. An occasion where his Wimbledon throne was stripped from him by Nadal in the most gut-wrenching, heart broken of fashions. And even after winning his 5th straight US Open over the likes of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, his defeat at the Australian Open at the hands of Nadal left him with tears sprawling down his face. "This is killing me" resonating from the pain he felt after losing to the Spaniard in Melbourne this year. It was supposed to be a fitting occasion that Nadal, someday, somehow, would be the proper way for him to win this title.
But thank God that isn't the case, because sports wouldn't be fitting if the occasions went by the "supposed to be's" and "this is how it should happen's", let alone life.
You know, those cliche "usuals."
Soderling lining up on the opposite side of the court today was fitting, no matter how much of a peculiar guy, jerk, or inconsistent talent he was in the past (and may still be, despite being exemplary in defeat today with his gestures and post match comments). And where its usual to see him win everywhere else, it was truly more sweeter to see this ambassador, gentleman, and fiery, cool competitor at the same time win at the one place where winning to him wasn't the norm.
An unusual opponent, on an unusual day, and a fitting end. Sometimes the unusual is what is needed. For Roger Federer and many of us around the world, the unusual produced something special that all of us will never forget.
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