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by PAM
I know I should be talking about Roger Federer's record-setting 8th Wimbledon Title - his 19th Grand Slam over all. Yep, his 19th won at SW19 - a feat that only he has achieved so far in the Open Era of the sport. I posted something on Facebook... but I can't even write a proper caption. I re-tweeted something from @Wimbledon on Twitter, but I know it's not enough. I need a moment... surely, any tennis fan must understand, it's an emotional occasion for me: I just witnessed tennis history unfold. I mean, history, man! It's probably worthy of World History, too, given that Sports has become a big part of 'pop culture'... and the world has become a big 'pop world'.
So, yeah, I'm gonna need a few days to drink it all in... keep re-playing that magical moment on Centre Court of the All England Club - on my computer, and in my head. It's just way too special to be treated as 'just another summer' in Wimbledon.
So, while I allow myself to be all-sentimental about this latest history-making achievements of RF, please allow me to share with you a few laugh-out-loud, aaaww and 'whoa!' moments in Tennis 2017 that I've enjoyed tremendously so far.
Fan: "Go, Roger!"
Stan: "He's not here. You go to Rod Laver."
Stanislas Wawrinka (Stan, "The Man") is hilarious! 😂 My goodness, I almost choked laughing at this. I didn't see it coming, I just kept the videos roll... and then this one above from the Australian Open (AO) 2017 came up. It seemed that somebody confused him with RF when it was announced that he was Switzerland's #1 male player, which was correct, given that RF took six-month hiatus prior to AO 2017. Or, perhaps the fan was disgruntled that he was unable to get a ticket at Rod Laver Arena. I love it that Stan didn't miss a beat, and just replied matter-of-factly. And he even made an effort to point to the Rod Laver Arena. 😁 Seriously hilarious! He was runner-up to RF at the BNP Paribas Open 2017 last March. His trophy acceptance speech, in which he called RF an "as---ole", also cracked me up. Seriously, "The Man" is funny!
While I was gallivanting in Italy last January, the first Grand Slam of the year was happening in the land down under. The AO is a special Grand Slam in its own right because it heralds the new year of big occasions in the tennis world. Of course, the highlight of that occasion in Oz was the meeting up of the old 'rivals', RF and Rafael Nadal in the men's singles final. And, because it's the most 'epic' rivalry in tennis history... and, perhaps, one of the most gigantic in all of sports world, there were many "whoa!" and "aaawww" moments and other stuff... which begin with their matching pink tennis shoes. Aaawww! 😊 But, this one here was one of those so unforgettable "whoa!" moments...
Whew!
An epic 26-shot rally, played as if it was happening nine years ago! Their speed was blinding, the intensity nerve-wracking, and the excitement heart-stopping. The guys just seemed to have gotten better... and they're both over thirty years of age! It was a competition that could've gone any other way, given the level of intensity in how both men were playing. But this rally was extra-special because RF fired a gorgeous winner and won the point - on Rafa's serve. And, AO 2017 was extra-special because RF won his 5th AO title, which was his 18th Grand Slam title - a record. But, of course, as we all know by now, he just topped that with a bolder stroke in history books in Wimbledon.
But before we get to that, I think I'm going to have to shut this blog down if I didn't put the 5th set of the men's final at AO 2017 up here. So, here it is...
But more than the trophies, historical wins and all the glamour of being 'Roger Federer, the Champ', what draws multitude of loyal fans to him is his grace... good looking and carries himself well, so urbane, talks intelligently, funny at times, and seems to usually do the right thing at any occasion. He simply commands respect.
I'm going to update this post at some point. But for now, this will suffice because... 'I need a moment', truly.
Excuse me.
*victory dance* 🙌🎊🎉✨🍸👌
But before we get to that, I think I'm going to have to shut this blog down if I didn't put the 5th set of the men's final at AO 2017 up here. So, here it is...
"It's perfectly amazing...Federer flying in the court again now...
...oh, yeah, we are all really fortunate to be seeing this right now...
...the remarkable Roger Federer!"
I'm going to update this post at some point. But for now, this will suffice because... 'I need a moment', truly.
Excuse me.
*victory dance* 🙌🎊🎉✨🍸👌
Video credits: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
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