Monday, July 6, 2009

A FED-LETTER DAY IN A LEAP YEAR

Consider this: It was the longest fifth-set in Wimbledon history. Andy Roddick, who has saved 6 out of 6 breakpoints in this match is serving at Deuce at 14-15. He makes a mis-hit. It's Advantage Federer - the first Championship Point of the match. It has been over 4 hours of see-sawing and brilliant serving bothways and big returns and enough of classic moments. It is late, past 11 at night, and you WANT A RESULT. You move forward on the edge of your chair, biting your nails, praying, as conflicting thoughts scuttle around in your mind late. (NOTE: The kids have obligingly gone to sleep on their own. Story-reading session postponed in view of his-STORY-making session on TV).

"Roddick will hit another ace and get himself out of this 7th break point." "C'mon Federer, hit back, go into a rally, give it one of your amazing running forehands/ sliced backhands/cleverly-disguised dinky lobs, anything, man. Just get it back and in there."

And Federer does. He gets it back at Roddick and readies himself for the rally. You are with him totally, egging Federer on to hit a winner. And Roddick, brave and brilliant till this point, hits the MOST IMPORTANT SHOT OF THIS MATCH
w-i-d-e. It is the pressure of history, the weight of destiny, of the sheer expectations and importance of the moment that does it. Federer does not have to hit the anticipated winner. So with all the pent-up energy and the won't-give-up focus and give-it-my-best adrenalin, he leaps into the air. And screams. Echoing the screams of all us Federer-fanatics around the world. Primal, relieved, exultant.

As the spouse (sharing, among other things, a love for Federer) said, "When you are witnessing history being made, it sure feels good to support the winning side."

I still feel too overjoyed for originality, so I'll just mention these:

As SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE fatefully prophesied, "IT WAS WRITTEN."

And, as the SAMSUNG MOBILE advertisement wonderingly predicts, "NEXT IS WHAT?"

20 comments:

Sharmistha Guha said...

Just a minute ago, in my blog I was responding to your comment...wondering how ecstatic you would be last night...and now here is the post!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONs to an ecstatic, overjoyed fan!!

Sharmistha Guha said...

Your post reads almost like a commentary!! I can almost FEEL the palpable excitement!!
Wonderfully written!!

Swaram said...

Oh what a wonderful match that was and what a wonderful post this is. Both of them gave it all n at the end, I was feeling a bit sad for Roddick. All in the game :)

magiceye said...

indeed!

Lazyani said...

:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
.....................


The grin continues

Aparna said...

Sucharita, I am not exactly a Federer fan but could not help feeling happy about your enthusiasm.I grew up watching Sampras and Wilander and for me, they still mean magic.But Federer is great no doubt and heres wishing him many more such wins to come.

Ugich Konitari said...

Sucharita,

I thought of you when Federer won. So I think huge congratulations are in order, actually for you. Enjoy the bubbly :-) (and do bequeath some chocolate icecream to the princesses from me :-) ...

An edge-of-the-chair post...

sujata sengupta said...

I knew this was coming!! It had to come and in this splendid exciting way through your post!!The moment he won..I thought of you..great! Thanks also for tagging me with the award, it now sits pretty on my page!

pradipwritenow said...

This is another example of how to keep cool and win. The exictements provided by you through your post were none the less.

Nona said...

It was as exciting as your described, I should have seen it! :(

Sumandebray said...

That was indeed a great match! I enjoyed every bit of it though I missed the first two sets as I was still at work. But it was any one's match and Fedex delivered once again. I was a little sad for the Andy boy. But history has been made and the process witnessed by the great souls of this game.

lopa said...

I too thought of you when Federer made history but sorry I was kind of rooting for Roddick :(

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Federer fan! :D

Anonymous said...

not a big follower of tennis so just hopping around soaking in the celebratory air :D

Urmi said...

Heartiest congratulations.Even I am also a very big fan of Federer.Initially he was not playing well but slowly he picked up and it was a terrific match.Very nice post.

Supriya Dutta said...

woww.....the spirit of the game has been rightly elated through this writing...

Meira said...

hehe...true. Though Andy played so so well. Sheesh! he deserved to win! Next is Nadal smashing Federer :D

Roshni said...

are you still celebrating?! :)

Deepanjan Ghosh said...

I understood absolutely NOTHING of that!!!

Sucharita Sarkar said...

@SGD,Swaram, Lazyani, Suranga, Sujata,Suman, Pradipda, Indyeah,Babli, Priya,

It was heady! wasn't it?

@Nona,

You definitely should have!

@Aparna,

Sampras was my fave, too, in his time!

@Meira and Lopa,

Shucks to you! Although I seemed to grow a sneaking admiration for Andy as well.

@Double-D,

If you are not a Fedex-fan, then you are losing out on some wonderful action!