Eva, a friend of mine from the tennis team who happens to be a graphic designer, and I went to the tournament on Thursday. We scored some sweet seats in row 8, with a great view and an afternoon of sunshine.
On the right is the number one tennis player in the world, Roger Federer. This guy is amazing. He played with precision, patience, and absolute effortlessness. Sometimes you could hardly hear the ball hit his racquet before it went shooting over the net. He beat 19th-ranked Ferrero (seated left) in two sets, no sweat.
Here's Federer preparing to return serve. A group of red-and-white-clad youths spurred the Swiss player on with melodic chants of "Roger, wir lieben Dich!" (Roger, we love you).
In addition to having the world's current best players (unfortunately I missed Nadal), the Black Rock Classic, the "tournament within the tournament," featured stars at the top of their class when I was growing up -- like Goran Ivanisevic, pictured above in awful capri pants. (I know, Nadal wears them, too, but at least he can pull them off.)
And Boris Becker!!!! Yep, Boris Becker. Who can forget the German tennis star who, in 1985, at the age of 17 became the youngest player ever to win Wimbledon (or any grand slam title for that matter). His distinguishable red hair is now bleach blonde, but he still wowed the crowd with his tennis.
Becker played Austrian Thomas Muster, winning in three sets (last set was 13:11!). The atmosphere was tremendous. Of course all the Germans were excited to see "their" tennis legend. Since it was an unofficial event, music played during change overs (think songs like "Eye of the Tiger") and fans shouted things like "the knees, Boris, don't forget to bend the knees."Truly an all aces event.
1 comment:
That sounds like so much fun jewels. M
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