The beauty of Bjorn Borg to Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s best ever
Tennis is a gold mine for those looking to take a trip down memory lane.
Roger Federer’s 17th major triumph was at Wimbledon in 2012. He wanted it so desperately and sincerely that I feared he sought it too much.
Roger Federer’s 17th major triumph was at Wimbledon in 2012. He wanted it so desperately and sincerely that I feared he sought it too much.
True sporting greatness makes people watch an athlete like they have a personal involvement. It’s as if we know Federer.
I could not have been more nervous if it was my own child, brother, mate against the brawling Andy Murray.
Federer lost the first set. Won the second. There was a rain delay in the third. I could not bear to watch. I left Centre Court — fool! — and went for a walk. I kept walking out to the back courts, which were empty, and stayed there when the match resumed.
I sat on a deserted bench and listened to the final two sets. Listened to the roars and groans of the crowd in the distance. I could see a scoreboard ticking over.
I did not see Federer win the seventh of his eight Wimbledon titles, but I heard it. Magical.
2 Halep breakthrough
I’ve sat in Simona Halep press conferences and thought, will you marry me? I’ve been passed the microphone and while I’ve asked how’s the bung shoulder, I’ve really been thinking, we can make it work! I can hit a decent ball. Not only can I be your flame, I can be your hitting partner. Match made in heaven!
Can journalists have a crush on an athlete? If female reporters can unashamedly swoon over Federer, I’ll happily admit to being a bit smitten by Halep.
I’ve sat through matches and written sensible reports for the paper but really I’ve been thinking, look, Simona, there be a few logistical complications to our relationship. I live in Sydney with my three daughters. You’re on the road a lot for work. But there’s nothing we won’t be able to overcome in the name of love.
Having resigned myself to admiring from afar, I’ve enjoyed her 2018 French Open triumph. Her first major. Few people will have blinked if she finished her career with no slams. But I have admired her fight and spirit and witnessed on countless occasions — at a distance! — her absolute devastation at falling short.
3 The beauty of Borg
Björn Borg beat John McEnroe in the 1980 Wimbledon final right when I was discovering the joy of tennis. My dear English mother had taken me on holidays to the Old Dart in 1979. I was plonked in front of the TV at one stage and there it was … tennis! Wimbledon! I was hooked.
Borg-McEnroe came along when I was right into the sport at 12 years of age. I wanted Borg’s haircut and Borg’s Donnay racquet and Borg’s sweatbands and Borg’s demeanour and Borg’s game style. All seemed doable.
It was perhaps fortunate that McEnroe lost. I would have struggled to become a curly-haired, backwards-serving left-hander who blew up every few games.
A sticker I bought at the time — Tennis Is Terrific! — is still on a desk at home.
Borg won in five sets, of course. He fell on financial hardships in 2006, planning to auction two racquets and all five of his Wimbledon trophies. McEnroe telephoned him and said, “What’s up? Have you gone mad?” Borg cancelled the auction.
4 Best match ever
Borg-McEnroe was eclipsed as the greatest match in history by Federer versus Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2008.
Greatest match ever.
Both at their peaks. Federer, a slicker version of the mercurial McEnroe. Nadal, a beefed-up version of the bullish Borg.
Two crowd favourites. Every point was celebrated like a World Cup goal. Nadal’s forehand at seven-all in the fourth-set tiebreaker: the best shot I have ever seen. Federer’s backhand at 7-8: not far behind.
Scoreboards of great tennis matches end up with enough numbers to make you cross-eyed. Nadal won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7.
Their fourth-set tiebreaker was shorter, but greater, than Borg and McEnroe’s 30-point marathon. The shotmaking. The breathless drama. The beautiful people, Federer and Nadal, had never looked more beautiful. They had rarely played better.
No tantrums. No histrionics. Pure tennis. Unbelievable tennis. They hit the cover off it.
McEnroe was commentating. “The greatest match I’ve ever seen,” he said. Borg was watching from the Royal Box. “That’s the best tennis match I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “You cannot see a better tennis match.”
The beauty of the modern age? You can watch it on YouTube. Any time you like.
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