I have many reasons to hate the French Open tennis tournament. The primary reason, of course, is that that the tournament is French. French somehow manage to get what they do not deserve, like the Permanent seat on the UN Security Council. That was a table for the victors and exactly which war did France win? Not the World War II. But, the French being French got a seat at the high table.
I may just, and possibly unjustifiably, extend that argument to tennis. Why is the French Open one of the four major tennis tournaments? Beyond the famed Four Musketeers, Suzanne Lenglen and Yannick Noah, France’s appearance in the tennis firmament is dim, dimmer, dimmest. Talking about the so-called Open Era, you have only Yannick Noah and the eminently forgettable Mary Pierce (no wonder I forgot to add her name to the earlier list!). Even Sweden has a longer list of tennis achievers, I would argue. Yet, French Open is one of the four majors; only because it is French.
But these are not reasons enough for me to hate French Open. French themselves call their national championships Roland Garros rather than the more popular French Open. If you do not believe me, google “French Open” and see what happens – “Roland Garros – the 2013 French Open” is the site that heads the results. So, basically the tournament is named after an aviator. This is OK, but only till people do not criticize the early name of the tennis complex in Flushing Meadows, Louis Armstrong Stadium, named after a jazz musician. What is good for the French goose is good for the American gander!
Even the above does not get me over the threshold, to hate French Open. For that I take you to 1984, men’s finals. McEnroe at his peak lost to Lendl, after leading by a set and a break. That was heartbreak hotel. Next, in 1989, Edberg lost to Chang. Two supreme serve-and-volley players losing to baseline bangers. Now, that is enough for me.
But, the 1984 French Open final had a redeeming aspect and that is told in the rest of this post. In 1984 I had reached – as I now realize – the nadir of being superstitious.
As the reception on my TV was not good I sauntered over to a friend’s house who had a cable connection. But, those were the days of nascent cableization in the city and the cable companies were playing truant to complaint calls. The TV reception at my friend’s house was better, not by much. Then, I shifted to another friend’s.
And during all this shifting, McEnroe, who was leading when I left my house, went down the chute and was dunked in the French Open (cess)pool – lost to Lendl. That made me decide and declare, “Never again watching tennis on any TV other than mine when McEnroe was playing !” If that is not the nadir of superstition, what is?
It is from that deep pit that I had dug for myself I slowly climbed up and out. First, I realized that I was being stupid. Then, I said to myself, “You do not need to be that stupid.” Later on, the third realization, “There is something that you can indeed do about this stupidity.” Fourth, what that something was simple, “Watch any goddamn match on any TV you feel like! You need not take responsibility for the results of that match!” I think I matched the Buddha in coming up with my custom-made Four Noble Truths! And, I have been none the worse since this dawned on me, not under a tree, of course.
I love Edberg almost as much as I do McEnroe. Indeed, Edberg’s low forehand volley is unmatched for its grace, the confidence with which it is struck. Take that John! And, Edberg lost to Chang in 1989 semi-final. I do not remember on which TV I watched this match. I felt miserable after the match, but did not blame the TV. What started with McEnroe’s loss was fully realized by the time Edberg lost.
“It is accomplished,” just as Jesus said at Calvary; I have slowly given up the ghost of superstition.
Thanks to the French Open, Roland Garros, whatever.
I love them all, the French too.
Raghuram Ekambaram
I may just, and possibly unjustifiably, extend that argument to tennis. Why is the French Open one of the four major tennis tournaments? Beyond the famed Four Musketeers, Suzanne Lenglen and Yannick Noah, France’s appearance in the tennis firmament is dim, dimmer, dimmest. Talking about the so-called Open Era, you have only Yannick Noah and the eminently forgettable Mary Pierce (no wonder I forgot to add her name to the earlier list!). Even Sweden has a longer list of tennis achievers, I would argue. Yet, French Open is one of the four majors; only because it is French.
But these are not reasons enough for me to hate French Open. French themselves call their national championships Roland Garros rather than the more popular French Open. If you do not believe me, google “French Open” and see what happens – “Roland Garros – the 2013 French Open” is the site that heads the results. So, basically the tournament is named after an aviator. This is OK, but only till people do not criticize the early name of the tennis complex in Flushing Meadows, Louis Armstrong Stadium, named after a jazz musician. What is good for the French goose is good for the American gander!
Even the above does not get me over the threshold, to hate French Open. For that I take you to 1984, men’s finals. McEnroe at his peak lost to Lendl, after leading by a set and a break. That was heartbreak hotel. Next, in 1989, Edberg lost to Chang. Two supreme serve-and-volley players losing to baseline bangers. Now, that is enough for me.
But, the 1984 French Open final had a redeeming aspect and that is told in the rest of this post. In 1984 I had reached – as I now realize – the nadir of being superstitious.
As the reception on my TV was not good I sauntered over to a friend’s house who had a cable connection. But, those were the days of nascent cableization in the city and the cable companies were playing truant to complaint calls. The TV reception at my friend’s house was better, not by much. Then, I shifted to another friend’s.
And during all this shifting, McEnroe, who was leading when I left my house, went down the chute and was dunked in the French Open (cess)pool – lost to Lendl. That made me decide and declare, “Never again watching tennis on any TV other than mine when McEnroe was playing !” If that is not the nadir of superstition, what is?
It is from that deep pit that I had dug for myself I slowly climbed up and out. First, I realized that I was being stupid. Then, I said to myself, “You do not need to be that stupid.” Later on, the third realization, “There is something that you can indeed do about this stupidity.” Fourth, what that something was simple, “Watch any goddamn match on any TV you feel like! You need not take responsibility for the results of that match!” I think I matched the Buddha in coming up with my custom-made Four Noble Truths! And, I have been none the worse since this dawned on me, not under a tree, of course.
I love Edberg almost as much as I do McEnroe. Indeed, Edberg’s low forehand volley is unmatched for its grace, the confidence with which it is struck. Take that John! And, Edberg lost to Chang in 1989 semi-final. I do not remember on which TV I watched this match. I felt miserable after the match, but did not blame the TV. What started with McEnroe’s loss was fully realized by the time Edberg lost.
“It is accomplished,” just as Jesus said at Calvary; I have slowly given up the ghost of superstition.
Thanks to the French Open, Roland Garros, whatever.
I love them all, the French too.
Raghuram Ekambaram
4 comments:
I have not watched much tennis on TV. I was happy playing the game at whatever level I was.However I remember a time when we invited two Indian famiies to our home in Los Alamos. They were from two different generation. One was talking of osewall, The leder Krishnan etc wheile the younger one was extolling the greatness of the modern brigade (That in early 90s. Iguess Agassi was there and others) As for french Open, I ams ure there are much better places for tennis today than the French capital. But tyr to take the game away from French and see what happens. I think most go to be in Paris !
That is another reason to add to my hatred, pala! Why is UNESCO HQed in Paris? As far as I know no UN outfit is HQed in Bonn. What di the Germans do that is so bad? Please, do not answer that.
I fall between Rosewall and Agassi and land squarely on the trinity of Borg-Connors-McEnroe, the last one being the DESTROYER!
RE
Boris Becker is till date my favourite tennis player and he was a no hopper in French Open. I share you opinion about this event :)
Yeah, Becker ... Agassi and Becker matches were interesting, Balu.
RE
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