Every major sport boasts of a highlight event, one which if you win, you are considered to have reached the pinnacle of that sport. Both tennis and golf, while hosting four major events, still place one event above the others. For golf, it is the Masters - the elusive pursuit of the legendary green jacket. In tennis, the tournament is Wimbledon. Sometimes, Wimbledon is simply referred to as “The Fortnight”, such is the air of respect and status this tournament receives.

Time-honored traditions are not only tolerated and accepted here, they are welcomed. Etiquette is not asked for, but demanded. No other tournament would even dream about running its event like Wimbledon does. The tournament is run in a proper fashion. Don’t show up on court without your all- white outfit. Practice your curtsy and bow if you plan on playing on Center Court. Make the most use of your 45-minute practice allotment. And remember to add “sir” when addressing the umpire. Did you know that there is still an “A” & “B” locker room for players? When Boris Becker, unseeded and only 17, won Wimbledon for the first time, he was in the “B” locker room. Boris spent the 2nd week of the fortnight alone, an entire locker room to himself! Play does not begin before noon, and the only Sunday on which play takes place is the Men’s Final. This is the 2nd time in the history of Wimbledon that play took place on the 1st Sunday, a result of innumerable rain delays. The All England Club must have been up in arms with that decision.

There is usually much ado during the course of Wimbledon. At no other event can court conditions change so dramatically, from fast to slow, sure-footed to slippery, true bounce to bad. Players aren’t used to the speed and low bounce they get playing on grass, which seems to give the big servers and net rushers an advantage. And the rain is constant; almost a part of the event. For newcomers, the experience can be overwhelming. All the great players who have done well here talk about how special Wimbledon is, and how nervous they are the first time they step on Center Court. To quote Andy Roddick, “There is no place like it. That’s the most prestigious court I’ll ever have the chance to play on.” For one fortnight a year, the game rises above the players. There is a special feel at Wimbledon like no other. It takes steely nerves, a strong constitution and ultimately, respect for the game and its time- honored traditions to survive the fortnight.

This year was a great Wimbledon. There were superb tennis moments and great match-ups. New faces challenged the old guard. There was much excitement and buzz throughout. For me, there are a few significant results that stand out. The first is Maria Sharapova, and what her win signifies. Born in Siberia, trained by two famous American junior coaches, blessed with the looks of a model (she is one) and spirit of a champion, Sharapova, at only 17, knocked the reigning queen, Serena Williams, off her throne. Sharapova is the 3rd youngest female to ever win a grand slam title. She makes quite a story.

This is the 1st time in 5 years someone other than a Williams has won the Ladies title. Just over a year ago the women’s game played like a worn down record - one-sided, with little to get excited about. The women’s tour is now so full of fresh faces and increased depth it is difficult to predict who will reach the finals from week to week. While there have been a few other years on the women’s circuit in which each Grand Slam was won by a different player, these Slams were usually won by players we expected to win. Not so this year. We have seen 6 different players in the finals of the 3 Grand Slams so far this year. That is a significant stat.

And look out for the Russian freight train. Sharapova is only the 5th highest ranked Russian, and the 3rd to reach a Grand Slam final this year. Mind- boggling. They have arrived fast and furious, and others would do well to pay heed.

On the Men’s side, I note two developments. They aren’t hard to notice. One is Roger Federer, quietly making his way to greatness. I have never seen anyone impose his or her will on the tennis court so subtly. Roger’s level of tennis is arguably higher than any other we have seen. But there is no need to compare different generations and engage in foolish debates about who is the greatest. For the moment Roger is the man. He has the complete game. A model game. Roger’s play is graceful, effortless, and full of poise and calm. Not even a glint of panic. For opponents, that is disparaging. If you cannot enjoy watching Roger play, then you might as well turn on ESPN and watch the gambling show. He is amazing.

The other development is the Roddick vs. Federer rivalry. Rivalries help capture the imagination and attention of fans around the world. You cannot create a rivalry. It must develop on its own. While Sampras & Agassi had a great rivalry, much of it occurred while one of the two (Agassi in his earlier years and Sampras in his later years) had lost some interest in the game. It appears Roger & Andy are peaking at the same time. Both are eager and hungry, both striving for greatness. There is enough contrast in styles and personalities to perk the interest of fans, and the tennis is phenomenal. In his post-match interview, Andy, with his ever-increasing wit and candor, when asked if he and Roger have developed a rivalry, quipped, “I have to win one to make it a rivalry!” Wrong, Andy. You two certainly have a rivalry, a special one, and the makings of a great one. If Roger is clearly #1 at the moment, then Andy is clearly #2. I cannot wait for the summer Harcourt circuit to begin!

In closing, a special plaudit for Martina Narvratilova. At the age of 47, she not only competed in but won a round in the Women singles draw. Phenonmenal. While she and Leander Paes did not win the Mixed Doubles crown again, they lost 13-11 in the 3rd set to the eventual winners. Our ageless wonder gives hope and inspiration to us all.

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Find The Ball

The Argentinian Oscar Wegner has a great tennis tip which he refers
to as “find the ball.”

Simply stated it means to be patient, determine first where the
ball is going to land and with how much pace, spin,
and bounce, and then prepare your swing accordingly. Another
way to picture this is to just move to the ball as if you were
going to catch it with your racquet hand.

Watch the pros. Their first move to a ball, whether forehand
or backhand, is a slight movement sideways with their shoulder
as they lean in the direction of the ball. Their arms and hands
are initially still, with the the butt of the racquet pointing
toward their navel (not much different than their ready
position). The racquet face is more-or-less parallel to the
net. Their non-racquet hand remains close to or on the
racquet. They “stalk the ball” in this position until they get
really close to it, then they begin preparing their swing. Often
they wait until the very last instant before they take their
backswing.

If their time is drastically reduced, they shorten their
backswing so their stroke is almost a block. If they have more
time to set up, then they will take a bigger, longer backswing.
This is why the best of them hit so smoothly and never appear
rushed. Their swing is always measured. They match their
effort (their swing) to the task (the ball’s pace, spin,
bounce).

Watch Agassi’s forehand. He hits many balls inside the baseline that look like
half-volleys, his backswing is that compact. His backhand has
has even less backswing, accelerating almost directly from
the “find the ball” position into the contact zone. This is
also what makes his return of serve among the best: there
is virtually no backswing once he has found the ball.

The opposite of this would be the big-hitting Fernando
Gonzalez, who begins his backswing before the ball has barely
left his opponent’s racquet. Lindsey Davenport is also guilty
of not always finding the ball.

One important note: finding the ball at the pro level does have
its idiosyncrasies. Roddick, Agassi, Federer, and Henin
might look a little different in the way they find the ball
(i.e., the position of their racquet face, their hands, arms)
but all of them are finding the ball –stalking it– before
they take their full swing at the ball.

Finding the ball is probably different than what you have
been taught (turn, take your racquet back, etc.), yet
it is what the pros do and it is actually a more natural
approach to striking a tennis ball.

Next time you are on the court, try to find the ball first, then
prepare your swing. You’ll discover that you have more time
to execute your shot (because you’ll never be rushed) and you’ll
be hitting more naturally.

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