Originally posted by klacr
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Andy Murray played the role of the stinker again. Moaning and groaning on the brink of defeat. Kohlschreiber had him in his clutches but let him go to see him play another day. Andy's interview was dreadfully boring once again...before the conclusion. In between the first and second act. He moaned about his injuries...his left quad and his right hamstring. Or was it the reverse. To tell you the truth...I don't care. But Andy sure made certain that everyone knew about it as he grimaced every time he lost a point. He was clutching too. Getting treatment on the changeovers. He milked it. An attention junkie. It was a typical Andy Murray performance. He cannot help himself. A leopard cannot change his spots.
Yesterday I went to the Vincent Van Gogh Museum...yesterday. Amsterdam is quite a place...quite a spectacle. There is Van Gogh and Rembrandt on the one hand and there is the Bull Dog Cafe "coffee shop" and the Red Light District on the other hand. Legal marijuana, hash, psylosiben mushrooms and legalized prostitution...it's true about the ladies in the windows. Now I know what a red light district means...literally only though. It was only window shopping. There is culture and then there is culture. Don't forget the canals! Go ask Alice...when she's ten feet tall. Ask her about Amsterdam. I went for the walk in the park today...this morning at 4 am. There was an enormous structure that spelled out...i amsterdam. I am sterdam. Get it?
So alright...that brings me to Federer vs. Gulbis. Ernests was in command the whole way it seems dictating the pace of play. Federer gamely resisting with his guile and his classy game. But Gulbis was rock solid on the backhand side and Federer didn't dare play to the forehand...for some strange reason. Gulbis at 25 years old stronger and quicker to Federer's 32. Plus the fact his wife had the second sets of twins a month or so ago. Emotionally he has to feel a bit drained. He fought to get his teeth in the match. He fought gamely enough but Gulbis is feeling his oats lately as he is climbing the food chain of professional tour tennis. Showing little respect for anyone in his way. I once said to nikae...you gotta be like that nikae. That's the way it is...there isn't much compassion when you get down to it. Maybe a little respect...maybe.
But these are modern days. Not that anyone would care to discuss just what exactly that means. What is the difference between "virtual reality"and just plain old fashioned "reality"? Yesterday with Ernests behind 5-2 in the fourth set with Roger poised to serve out the set he suddenly felt the need to summon the trainer to his chair. After consulting with him he decided that it was necessary to disappear into the training room for a rather extended period of time to tend to some discomfort that he was feeling. Apparently it couldn't wait until the set was over...that would have been inconvenient. Apparently he didn't feel that Roger deserved to serve it out right then and there...because for some reason he wasn't feeling up to it. He couldn't face it...at least not for some moments.
Roger looked visibly annoyed. Who wouldn't be? Gulbis walking off of the court right in front of him...he knew that he was in for a wait. He tried to pass the time. Tried to be a good "sport"about it. But he was annoyed...tennis etiquette had been breached. An opponent seeking unfair advantage against his opponent. Roger was probably stiffening up a bit...afterall he isn't any Spring Texas Pony any longer. They had been playing for over two hours of hammering the ball back and forth and this was the crucial point of the match. What were we calling it a while back...I forget. Was it the culmination point?
That was it...the culmination point. There goes Gulbis...instead of taking it like a man. If he was indeed having some physical issues...why not let Roger serve it out and then take the time out after the end of the set. No...that wouldn't be the consideration. Roger got up out of his chair...he knew the score and he knew the game. He was stiffening...so he went out on the court and tried to stay loose. I mentioned to my buddy that someone should have gone out and hit a few balls to him. Roger lost his rhythm that he was so meticuously trying to rediscover. He lost his serve and never really got it back. He was rolling but the Gulbis ploy worked. Gulbis came out of the locker room and the momentum of the match stalled...at least on Roger's behalf. Even though he managed to serve it out on his second attempt the match was a foregone conclusion. Disrupted by a disrespectful act of gamesmanship.
It's the game within the game. I was wondering if such a timeout was legal back in the day of wood racquet play. Back in the day of classic tennis. Somehow I see old Aussie's refusing to leave the court on account of their discomfort in order that they don't steal from their opponent. I remember Don Budge in his white flannel trousers at his tennis camp expounding on the strokes and the game within the game. It was a love of the game that went beyond money and greed. But you can bet that Ernests doesn't feel that same longing. He won't be conducting any tennis camps when he is 57 years old...teaching fledgling young tennis players about respect or love.
Bill Tilden wrote a book that sits on my bookshelf back in Sweden. In my office that reminds me of Johnny Depp's office looking out "The Secret Window". The book is titled...It's All in the Game. An innocent book...short stories about a naive love of sporting gestures and genuine love and respect for the game and it's history. One cannot reasonably expect that a young fellow like Ernests Gulbis would have read such a book...but he should. He just may learn something...about respect. About tennis etiquette.
For Roger's part...he commented on Ernests decision. But he is a class act and didn't say too much about it. But I read between the lines and he doesn't appreciate such behavior. I read what Ernests said...and he doens't get it. Modern days...modern tennis. Enough said.
I am going to Paris later today. I am extremely disappointed that I won't get the chance to see Roger play. I don't blame Ernests. He doesn't know any better probably. That is the sad part about it all...the tragedy of it all.
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