Tennis appeals to me as a metaphor for agency. When the ball is on your opponent's side of the net, you employ the brain's executive function. One has time to think. When the ball is on your side of the court, you dispense with thinking and act. (See how simple tennis can be. As simple as knowing where the ball is.)
It is always a pleasure to read your missive on Fridays. As you probably know the French word for dance is balance. I learned that by visiting and dancing to the music of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" mentions the forsaken dilemma of people.
I don't want to be pedantic but the French word for dance is danse (noun) or danser (verb). I can't think of any context where it is otherwise. Nice idea, but ...
I have records from Guadeloupe and Martinique on which the dancers are urged to "balancé, balancé!" or to swing. If you have ever seen the people of these islands dance to zouk, beguine et al then you might see that they sway and swing like palm trees. Perhaps the creole peoples use it differently than the Parisian French. I have also heard the word danser used too.
You’re such a delight. Crazy tournament. Looks likely that Djokovic and Sabalenka will win. Not that I’m rooting for either of them. Hope to be surprised.
A bit more on Alex Eala soon? (I’m still hoping that you and Rennae will eventually continue your promised longer post-AO treatment of semi-finalists Ben Shelton and Paula Badosa (but, boy, her narrative is changed since Melbourne, sadly)). But could you pin some prescient thoughts about Eala now, while the take is red-hot?
Here is my thesis: every really good, highly-ranked pro tennis player sort of “puts it all together” at some point, usually a gradual process, and the results stick for years. Some times this takes years and mid- to late-20s maturity (see Jessie Pegula, and Madi Keys, though she’s been great for a decade and a half). Some times a player’s skills gel in just a year’s time (see Mirra Andreeva).
Why couldn’t everything come together for a player in, say, six days, and, viola, Alex Eala? One day she’s losing ITF W75s in the 3rd round, and two weeks later she’s routinely beating top 10s half of the time. Of course Eala didn’t pick up her first racket last week. She’s been turning heads in tennis-talent-land since she was 13. But over six days, two months before she turns 20, every piece has gelled and crystallized. She might be the real thing: a young Rafa, a young Becker, a young Serena. Suddenly she is just “on the scene.” The game and mentality has been building for seven years. But now? She didn’t just peek over the fence to see what the big kids were doing in Miami. She brought an axe and a folding chair to Miami, chopped a hole in the fence, unfolded her chair, sat down next to Mirra, and announced, “I’m here. Let’s have some fun!”
That’s possible, right? Rafa and uncle Tony knew this was coming a long time ago. And they know stuff, right?
She’s the most fun tennis watch I’ve ever seen in 40 years of following the game. She’s Joao Fonseca times 3. She will grow the game to new heights in new parts of the world, change tournament venues and schedules, scale prize money upward for everyone. Let’s hope this wasn’t a flash in the pan. It’s too fun!
Ah, yes, Miami traffic. As Dave Barry says, “There I was on the shoulder of I-95, stopped by a police officer for a busted brake light, watching men in Porsches driving 100 mph with one hand because they were using their other hand to keep their pit bulls from spilling cocaine all over their machine guns.”
You nailed Miami traffic perfectly. I grew up in Florida and only visiting Miami in my 30s because I felt way too inexperienced and thus was way too fearful of driving in that South Florida traffic until I had more years under my belt. Give me driving in LA any day over driving in Miami.
Beautifully put on tension vs .looseness But in finals, tension is non-negotiable—you either thrive in it or shrink. Even Monfils can’t shimmy past pressure. Champions use tension; the rest of us try(and fail) to dodge it. Unless you’re the Dalai Lama, there’s no bypassing the storm—only learning to breathe inside it. And the Lama, bless him, isn’t out here serving at 130 mph!
Re Balance:
Tennis appeals to me as a metaphor for agency. When the ball is on your opponent's side of the net, you employ the brain's executive function. One has time to think. When the ball is on your side of the court, you dispense with thinking and act. (See how simple tennis can be. As simple as knowing where the ball is.)
this is interesting. i will have to think about it a bit longer!
It is always a pleasure to read your missive on Fridays. As you probably know the French word for dance is balance. I learned that by visiting and dancing to the music of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" mentions the forsaken dilemma of people.
I don't want to be pedantic but the French word for dance is danse (noun) or danser (verb). I can't think of any context where it is otherwise. Nice idea, but ...
I have records from Guadeloupe and Martinique on which the dancers are urged to "balancé, balancé!" or to swing. If you have ever seen the people of these islands dance to zouk, beguine et al then you might see that they sway and swing like palm trees. Perhaps the creole peoples use it differently than the Parisian French. I have also heard the word danser used too.
Superb and delightful insight writing as ever I turn to shop while listening to Anthrax some 80s thrash metal works wonders in the laundry department.
What a very nice ending with flowers on our dining room tables. Thanks for that, especially.
Great read Andrea, and you ain’t lying about Miami drivers, literally a hot mess in those streets.
When I used to run (for an extremely short period of my life) Green Day’s Peacemaker got me through it.
Fun read as always 🩵
GREEN DAY!!!!!
You’re such a delight. Crazy tournament. Looks likely that Djokovic and Sabalenka will win. Not that I’m rooting for either of them. Hope to be surprised.
Insights into how players carry tension and driving styles will usually generate great mileage.
Learning now how Kerber drives supports my theory that she has often been misdefined as a counterpuncher. Thank you, Andrea.
BJK Cup qualies coming the week after next. You played for Germany for years. Any thoughts or remembrances?
Thanks!
A bit more on Alex Eala soon? (I’m still hoping that you and Rennae will eventually continue your promised longer post-AO treatment of semi-finalists Ben Shelton and Paula Badosa (but, boy, her narrative is changed since Melbourne, sadly)). But could you pin some prescient thoughts about Eala now, while the take is red-hot?
Here is my thesis: every really good, highly-ranked pro tennis player sort of “puts it all together” at some point, usually a gradual process, and the results stick for years. Some times this takes years and mid- to late-20s maturity (see Jessie Pegula, and Madi Keys, though she’s been great for a decade and a half). Some times a player’s skills gel in just a year’s time (see Mirra Andreeva).
Why couldn’t everything come together for a player in, say, six days, and, viola, Alex Eala? One day she’s losing ITF W75s in the 3rd round, and two weeks later she’s routinely beating top 10s half of the time. Of course Eala didn’t pick up her first racket last week. She’s been turning heads in tennis-talent-land since she was 13. But over six days, two months before she turns 20, every piece has gelled and crystallized. She might be the real thing: a young Rafa, a young Becker, a young Serena. Suddenly she is just “on the scene.” The game and mentality has been building for seven years. But now? She didn’t just peek over the fence to see what the big kids were doing in Miami. She brought an axe and a folding chair to Miami, chopped a hole in the fence, unfolded her chair, sat down next to Mirra, and announced, “I’m here. Let’s have some fun!”
That’s possible, right? Rafa and uncle Tony knew this was coming a long time ago. And they know stuff, right?
She’s the most fun tennis watch I’ve ever seen in 40 years of following the game. She’s Joao Fonseca times 3. She will grow the game to new heights in new parts of the world, change tournament venues and schedules, scale prize money upward for everyone. Let’s hope this wasn’t a flash in the pan. It’s too fun!
Think we need to pump the brakes on this just a bit. But will be interesting to see how she does on the clay in Europe.
Would love more on the Alcarez meh and on the fun and bravado of Eala. And, forget the minor blemishes; just look at those brows and lashes.
LOL
Skin is not that bad, Andrea. Barely noticeable. Poor Sofia Kenin needs a bit of help, tho. A lot of the guys, too.
Ah, yes, Miami traffic. As Dave Barry says, “There I was on the shoulder of I-95, stopped by a police officer for a busted brake light, watching men in Porsches driving 100 mph with one hand because they were using their other hand to keep their pit bulls from spilling cocaine all over their machine guns.”
You nailed Miami traffic perfectly. I grew up in Florida and only visiting Miami in my 30s because I felt way too inexperienced and thus was way too fearful of driving in that South Florida traffic until I had more years under my belt. Give me driving in LA any day over driving in Miami.
Question of the year so far: "do we think Novak watches TV?"
Beautifully put on tension vs .looseness But in finals, tension is non-negotiable—you either thrive in it or shrink. Even Monfils can’t shimmy past pressure. Champions use tension; the rest of us try(and fail) to dodge it. Unless you’re the Dalai Lama, there’s no bypassing the storm—only learning to breathe inside it. And the Lama, bless him, isn’t out here serving at 130 mph!