Yes, when losing we are comforted with “company”. Thanks for your post! We are devastated over the election here in the U.S. but will continue to stand up for our democratic rights. We will watch Germany and hope for the Best!🙏🏼
Yes. Lesson well learned. I remember being so impressed by Venus Williams at Wimbledon - match point down in the finals and going for an outrageous winner, and making it, then winning the match! She never backed down.
But, to be honest, I’m light of the devastating results of the election here, tennis feels a little inconsequential at the moment
The funny thing (or not) is that the fans go through the same sh*t the player goes when they lose, we overreact most of the times like our lives depended on the result 😂
The essence of tennis. Not a lot of coverage about the ratio of pros total, to tournament winners. A quick look at the WTA shows than our Andrea, world class no matter how you look at it, won 7 tournaments out of 373. Even Novak, setting all sorts of records, is at 99 wins out of 321. Think of those stats for a second. :)
Wait, isn't schadenfreude a German word? BTW, we did just elect someone who hopes to be as intelligent a leader as Mussolini, as compassionate as Hitler, kind as Erdoğon and as... well, you get this idea. Your posts are a pleasure, as always.
Pithy, honest, bare, and funny, all at once. Well played! Two small things: 1. Lendl said, about his longstanding refusal to play Wimbledon, "I'm allergic to grass." 2. Anger is the most socially acceptable emotion to show, but it's a secondary emotion to foundational ones such as embarrassment, fear, disappointment, disrespect. Focusing on anger when something deeper is actually the issue is a game of frustration.
Interesting post! I guess winning and losing is the same whether its the Wimbledon Final or the first round or the 3.5 Club tournament.
I'm curious about your philosophy in matches, because everyone is different. When it is close,
Novak goes into lock down defense. High level pushing. On the other, when its close Roger is
attacking: serving big and coming out of his shoes on the forehand.
If most tennis matches are lost not won, how did you look at big points and big moments?
How would coach other players?
I also have a theory about the difference between the men's and women's tour. On the men's tour there is a premium on movement. There isn't ball that Novak and Rafa couldn't get to, therefore
redlining it in the rallies had a lower benefit. Reciprocally on the women's tour when Serena or Sabalenka go big its theirs to win or lose.
"sometimes when I lost a tennis match I checked whether players I respected lost too. And when they did I felt better."
After a lifetime as a tennis player (not like you, but still) I added cyclist to my cv. Reasonably seriously. When there are days I cannot ride as planned, due to this or that, and it rains, I secretly think, "Well, none of the gang is getting to ride, either." An alternate version of schadenfreude.
But beyond that, thanks for this, from Philadelphia.
I hope you continue to think so. The media and would be travellers outside your country are quite visibly disturbed, looking elsewhere for places to go and any semblance of freedom.
Thanks for this, Andrea. Great column. I needed it this week. And journalism schools beat cliches out of you, so never use them. But you can riff on them, which is fun.
Thanks for sharing about losing. It’s never easy to deal with a loss of a match. While I’ve never been a pro, I’ve played competitive junior tennis (as well as other sports like football) in my younger days. A loss is a loss and different people deal with it differently. Importantly, sometimes it isn’t so much the concept of losing that impacts, but how you lose (how you described in your loss in the French Open after leading).
On a side note, I’m so happy for Elena. I think her partnership with Goran is gonna rock. She’s such a talented player and she has what it takes to be the very best.
Riyadh was awesome. The quality of the matches was at such a high level. Enjoyed the duels between the best of the best in the women’s tennis world. And an amazing win for Coco.
Yes, when losing we are comforted with “company”. Thanks for your post! We are devastated over the election here in the U.S. but will continue to stand up for our democratic rights. We will watch Germany and hope for the Best!🙏🏼
Yes. Lesson well learned. I remember being so impressed by Venus Williams at Wimbledon - match point down in the finals and going for an outrageous winner, and making it, then winning the match! She never backed down.
But, to be honest, I’m light of the devastating results of the election here, tennis feels a little inconsequential at the moment
Love this. And I love your Substack. Thanks, Andrea.
The funny thing (or not) is that the fans go through the same sh*t the player goes when they lose, we overreact most of the times like our lives depended on the result 😂
The essence of tennis. Not a lot of coverage about the ratio of pros total, to tournament winners. A quick look at the WTA shows than our Andrea, world class no matter how you look at it, won 7 tournaments out of 373. Even Novak, setting all sorts of records, is at 99 wins out of 321. Think of those stats for a second. :)
Wait, isn't schadenfreude a German word? BTW, we did just elect someone who hopes to be as intelligent a leader as Mussolini, as compassionate as Hitler, kind as Erdoğon and as... well, you get this idea. Your posts are a pleasure, as always.
Pithy, honest, bare, and funny, all at once. Well played! Two small things: 1. Lendl said, about his longstanding refusal to play Wimbledon, "I'm allergic to grass." 2. Anger is the most socially acceptable emotion to show, but it's a secondary emotion to foundational ones such as embarrassment, fear, disappointment, disrespect. Focusing on anger when something deeper is actually the issue is a game of frustration.
Interesting post! I guess winning and losing is the same whether its the Wimbledon Final or the first round or the 3.5 Club tournament.
I'm curious about your philosophy in matches, because everyone is different. When it is close,
Novak goes into lock down defense. High level pushing. On the other, when its close Roger is
attacking: serving big and coming out of his shoes on the forehand.
If most tennis matches are lost not won, how did you look at big points and big moments?
How would coach other players?
I also have a theory about the difference between the men's and women's tour. On the men's tour there is a premium on movement. There isn't ball that Novak and Rafa couldn't get to, therefore
redlining it in the rallies had a lower benefit. Reciprocally on the women's tour when Serena or Sabalenka go big its theirs to win or lose.
Poignant..
"sometimes when I lost a tennis match I checked whether players I respected lost too. And when they did I felt better."
After a lifetime as a tennis player (not like you, but still) I added cyclist to my cv. Reasonably seriously. When there are days I cannot ride as planned, due to this or that, and it rains, I secretly think, "Well, none of the gang is getting to ride, either." An alternate version of schadenfreude.
But beyond that, thanks for this, from Philadelphia.
I conveyed your opinion of grass to my cow friends. They replied, Loser!
This week has been wonderful for plenty of people and many of my friends‼️
I hope you continue to think so. The media and would be travellers outside your country are quite visibly disturbed, looking elsewhere for places to go and any semblance of freedom.
Your writing and thoughts flow as effortlessly as maple syrup on a waffle !
another great piece Andrea
Thanks for this, Andrea. Great column. I needed it this week. And journalism schools beat cliches out of you, so never use them. But you can riff on them, which is fun.
Thanks for sharing about losing. It’s never easy to deal with a loss of a match. While I’ve never been a pro, I’ve played competitive junior tennis (as well as other sports like football) in my younger days. A loss is a loss and different people deal with it differently. Importantly, sometimes it isn’t so much the concept of losing that impacts, but how you lose (how you described in your loss in the French Open after leading).
On a side note, I’m so happy for Elena. I think her partnership with Goran is gonna rock. She’s such a talented player and she has what it takes to be the very best.
Riyadh was awesome. The quality of the matches was at such a high level. Enjoyed the duels between the best of the best in the women’s tennis world. And an amazing win for Coco.
Love this stack, Andrea