Sunday, January 29, 2006
RE: I was ready to die on the court today
You have to hand it to Mauresmo- she kept her cool while she was being dissed by a wimpy Henin. I especially liked how she deflected comment about her opponent's behavior because she did not want to be dragged into controversy. And she was savvy enough to downplay Henin's weakness and instead promote her own strengths. She was definitely playing well enough all tournament to win it. So no apologies are needed from her. She accepted the mantle of champion by acting like one.
I'm not saying that Henin wasn't feeling poorly. Always looming in a professional athlete's mind must be the specter of serious injury or illness, as Henin has had repeatedly in the past, to discourage her from continuing to play under physical duress. I mean, she IS trying to make a living from her body and obviously can't ignore her own interests in the long term when it comes to her health.
BUT several things bugged me about her response to her predicament in the final:
Her illness was temporary, at least if she was presenting her position forthrightly. There is some question in my mind whether it was just a stomachache and shoulder pain she was dealing with, or something more serious- she misrepresented her health in earlier interviews during the tournament, saying she felt great, when now it comes out that her shoulder HAD been bothering her all along. So you can't really take what she says at face value. In any case, it wasn't a very publicly turned ankle like Kim Clijisters has to contend with for the next two or three months. I mean, Henin didn't even barf- how upset could her stomach really have been?
Regardless, she could have played easy if she was not "at the top of her game" and finished the match, like a real champion would have, win or lose. It shows how clueless these players really are sometimes out there, unaware that being "short-term" greedy could tarnish their careers forever. Doesn't she understand that she is on stage, and people watch how she handles herself under all circumstances, not just when she's winning but especially when losing?
People love to watch good tennis, but in an internationally televised event like a Grand Slam the stakes are higher. It's about more than making your shots. At this level of play you expect more from your tennis heroes- you expect them to have a good attitude, to display gratitude for being at the top of their sport and graciousness toward their opponents even when the chips are down. Henin failed on both counts in the Aussie final. This negativity definitely downgrades her from hero status, in my book. One has only to watch the inimitable Roger Federer to witness a deserving champion in the flesh.
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/photos/imagepages/2006-01-26/200601261138273908908.html
I wept for the guy, it was that moving to see him come back from a set and a break down to win his seventh Grand Slam title and be presented the winner's trophy by the legendary Rod Laver, Roger's hero and inspiration on his own path to greatness.
Good show, Federer. You and Mauresmo are a fitting match.
-Moops
I'm not saying that Henin wasn't feeling poorly. Always looming in a professional athlete's mind must be the specter of serious injury or illness, as Henin has had repeatedly in the past, to discourage her from continuing to play under physical duress. I mean, she IS trying to make a living from her body and obviously can't ignore her own interests in the long term when it comes to her health.
BUT several things bugged me about her response to her predicament in the final:
Her illness was temporary, at least if she was presenting her position forthrightly. There is some question in my mind whether it was just a stomachache and shoulder pain she was dealing with, or something more serious- she misrepresented her health in earlier interviews during the tournament, saying she felt great, when now it comes out that her shoulder HAD been bothering her all along. So you can't really take what she says at face value. In any case, it wasn't a very publicly turned ankle like Kim Clijisters has to contend with for the next two or three months. I mean, Henin didn't even barf- how upset could her stomach really have been?
Regardless, she could have played easy if she was not "at the top of her game" and finished the match, like a real champion would have, win or lose. It shows how clueless these players really are sometimes out there, unaware that being "short-term" greedy could tarnish their careers forever. Doesn't she understand that she is on stage, and people watch how she handles herself under all circumstances, not just when she's winning but especially when losing?
People love to watch good tennis, but in an internationally televised event like a Grand Slam the stakes are higher. It's about more than making your shots. At this level of play you expect more from your tennis heroes- you expect them to have a good attitude, to display gratitude for being at the top of their sport and graciousness toward their opponents even when the chips are down. Henin failed on both counts in the Aussie final. This negativity definitely downgrades her from hero status, in my book. One has only to watch the inimitable Roger Federer to witness a deserving champion in the flesh.
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/photos/imagepages/2006-01-26/200601261138273908908.html
I wept for the guy, it was that moving to see him come back from a set and a break down to win his seventh Grand Slam title and be presented the winner's trophy by the legendary Rod Laver, Roger's hero and inspiration on his own path to greatness.
Good show, Federer. You and Mauresmo are a fitting match.
-Moops
# posted by Moopy and Mopey @ 7:39 AM 
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