Serena Williams @ 19 Grand Slams!

When she and her sister Venus started winning Grand Slams, I remember reading a sports news item that quoted their father Richard saying that, between the two, it was Serena who was hungrier.

He was right. Father knows best, I guess.

I saw Serena Williams play at the Rod Laver Arena during the Australian Open back in January 2007 at Melbourne. That summer day in Melbourne Park, inside the players' lounge, my friends Elizabeth, Louise (a tennis commentator and the former Australian Fed Cup captain), and I were watching Serena battle against Nadia Petrova from the TV monitor. The first set score was 6-1 in favor of the Russian, but Serena fought back on the second set. That was when we decided to go up to the Rod Laver Arena and watch the match from there. Serena won in three sets.

I guess that's just Serena; the grit, the determination to win and the fight till the end. And just as Monica Seles said of her matches against her legendary tennis rival, "with Steffi, till you shake hands, the match is not over". I think that's the same mentality of champions. They never give up until the chair umpire declares 'game, set, match'.

And just over the weekend, Serena Williams won her 6th Australian Open singles title, making her total Grand Slam singles titles to 19, one more than the individual Grand Slam records of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Last Saturday, she defeated Maria Sharapova in straight sets. Serena's 19 GS titles make her female tennis player with the 3rd most titles, after Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22). So, in tennis history, she is already one of the best tennis players ever.

And as a tennis fan, I consider myself lucky that, in my lifetime, I was able to watch and enjoy a legend play a competitive match live, and at a Grand Slam at that! She actually went on to win that year in Australia.

                     (A post-match interview)

And to make things even special, I received a gift from the Australian Open organizers that year: a t-shirt which was signed by 20 female tennis players who I think played there in 2007, and one of them was Serena! I intend to keep and treasure this souvenir, of course! 

Congratulations to Serena! What an athlete and a competitor. Now, she'll be definitely chasing Steffi's record of 22.

         (My souvenir t-shirt signed by 20 female 
          tennis players at the Australian Open)

                         (Serena's autograph)

A Tennis Dream Come True: The Australian Open!

That's the very beautiful Ana Ivanovic above serving during her first round match in 2007. I was reminded of this picture when I was watching her today play against Serena Williams on her Round of 16 match at the 2014 Australian Open. How I wish I was back there again. The energy and the atmosphere of the Rod Laver Arena during a great match could not be felt if you're just watching on TV.

How did I become a tennis fan?

                                      (James Blake)

                                      (Kim Clijsters)

Well, I actually started as a tennis player. On weekends, that is.

Back when I was still living in Manila, during weekends, I'd go to the Culture Center of the Philippines complex, where they converted the parking lot behind the CCP into tennis courts with uneven surface, ugly lines and old nets that had seen better days, or in their case, better matches. I'd pay a few hundred pesos back then to some so-called tennis instructors, who half-heartedly taught me to serve, volley and hit a decent forehand. Luckily, there was a wall next to the CCP where I actually improved my hand-eye coordination and reflex by hitting balls against the wall using double-handed forehands and backhands.

                                     (Roger Federer)

                       (Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet)


And over the years, I developed my own double-handed backhand when I started playing at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, which had the best tennis courts in Manila. Playing there was a bit more expensive though and the courts were usually full on weekends. 

I'd usually play against friends; sometimes against strangers. I sometimes won and sometimes didn't. But it was the fun, the exercise and the goal to improve my game that dragged me to the courts over the years.

         (My favorite male player, Rafael Nadal practicing 
             his serve with his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal)

And then I came to Korea.

Over the years, playing against friends on the clay courts of Hannam-dong and the hard courts of Jangchung have enormously improved my tennis. I remember I joined my first tournament organized by the office tennis club in the summer of 2005. My doubles partner Jaesun and I lost...all of our matches. Ha-ha-ha! It was held on a Saturday morning and I remember I left the tennis courts limping all the way to my Korean class at YBM Sisa in Jongno that afternoon. But it was fun and a realization for me that I needed to improve a lot of aspects of my game before I competed again.

And then I met Lynette and Rene, a couple from Australia who are both very good doubles players. I played a few times with them and learned a lot of techniques, especially on clay. (Thanks, Lynette and Rene!) And in the winter of 2005, I competed again in another tournament, this time with another very good partner, Woojae.

This time, I could not believe it -- we won all our matches! I was a doubles champion in just six months! Finally! This is how hard work pays off.

                 (The tennis crowd at the Rod Laver Arena)

 

  (Martina Hingis serving. I actually had a placard made for   Martina which I displayed during her match)

                                         (Ball boys)

Before Lynette and Rene left Seoul to go back to Australia, they invited me to visit them in Melbourne. Of course, who would want to decline such an invitation? That's the home of the Australian Open!

So, in January 2007, I flew to Melbourne onboard Singapore Airlines, which have fabulous service and in-flight entertainment, by the way. Upon landing, I already tried to copy the Aussie accent that when my turn came up at the immigration line, I greeted the officer, "Good-dye-might!". I sounded like a local. Ha-ha-ha!
 

                                      (Lines persons)

            (A younger Andy Murray, whom I asked for a photo. 
                               He was very nice.)

               (Sir Richard Branson was also very nice. 
                        I also had a photo with him.)

Having bought tickets for first round matches months ahead, Lynette, Elizabeth, another friend from England, and I took the train from Mount Eliza and headed to Melbourne Park.

I remember the excitement, the atmosphere and the thrill of just sitting there amidst thousands of tennis fans filling up the Rod Laver Arena. As I sat there shaded from the mean Australian summer sun, I realized my dream of attending a grand slam event just came true. The years of playing tennis at CCP and at Rizal Memorial Stadium, and watching the sport on TV all came down to this: sitting, clapping and cheering live and in person for the world's best tennis players in one of the world's best tennis arenas. 

                         (Roger Federer changing shirt)

                                (Mikhail Youzhny)

And the dream didn't stop there at the Rod Laver Arena. It just went crazier.

Thanks to 'someone' who was a former professional player at the women's tour, I was given a player's pass! It was like I was part of a tennis player's entourage or team and could get into any match I wanted to see, be it at the Rod Laver Arena, Hi-Sense Arena or at the Margaret Court Arena! 

But the best part was....I had access to the players' lounge! Waaah!

On the moment I stepped into the players' lounge deep inside the labyrinth of the Australian Open arena, I almost went crazy! 

On the table afar were Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and their teams. To my right were Martina Hingis and a few European tennis players, and while I was waiting in line for a free cup of coffee was the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez! And I almost bumped and spilled Ai Sugiyama's coffee! I actually had a photo with Ai before entering the lounge. Taking photographs inside the inner sanctum was not allowed, but thanks to that dear friend who introduced me to Ai, I had one photo with her after a short chat.

Every where I turned at the players' lounge was a tennis star who I only saw on TV and on magazines. These are the players whose forehand angles and dropshots I copied, and who gave me confidence to do my own topspin lobs and backhand slices. As I said, I almost went crazy inside the players' lounge. But I had to subdue my excitement, knowing inside my head this was too much for me to handle. It was like a tennis fan overload! Ha-ha-ha! Otherwise, those big AO security personnel in yellow shirts would kick me out.

                                 (Tommy Robredo)

                (The crowds are the Margaret Court Arena)

(Win a few grand slams and you'd also get a court 

named after you)

Elizabeth and I didn't waste any moment with our player's passes. We went to see Roger Federer vs. Mikhail Youzny, and the Richard Gasquet vs. Gael Monfils matches for free!  We just headed to the 'players box' area and just enjoyed the atmosphere and the thrill again. After the Monfils vs. Gasquet match I spotted the retired French tennis player Guy Forget, who was also the French team captain. I stopped him and said, "Monsieur Forget, une moment s'il vous plait", and snapped a selfie with him! My two years of studying French at Alliance Francaise de Manille paid off! Ha-ha-ha! Of course, I didn't forget to say, "Merci."

The other match we saw was Serena Williams vs. Nadia Petrova. Serena and Federer, by the way, were that year's champions. 

(Tennis fans awaiting a player to get a player's autograph)

           (A peace offering from the Australian Open organization:  an AO shirt signed by 20 female tennis players 

       including Martina Hingis and Serena Williams)

Before we ended our day with our player's pass, Elizabeth and I ate dinner inside the players' lounge. I think I had pasta-something. While I was munching down the calories, Dinara Safina came in and joined Elena Dementieva's table. Dinara was very tall and was always smiling. Maybe she won that night. On the other table was Fernando Gonzalez also munching down his dinner after a win; he was being congratulated by other players.

                                      (Mario Ancic)

                                     (Nadia Petrova)

                                  (Serena Williams)

As tennis player and a fan, it was indeed a trip of a lifetime to the Australian Open. Not only did I bring back with me a few AO towels and keychains (for which I wasn't given discounts by the AO and for which I had to officially complain and got a peace offering of a signed AO t-shirt in return) as souvenirs, I also brought back fabulous memories, a ton of bragging rights and a dozenTim Tams! Ha-ha-ha!

So, thanks a million to my dear friends Lynette, Rene, Dale and Louise, for hosting me and making my tennis dream come true!

And these days, as I watch the live matches at the Australian Open, I could only watch with envy as the crowds sitting at the arena cheer, clap, whistle and gasp at every point. But at least, I could say 'been there, done that', as my own tennis dream already came true at The Australian Open.

Game, set, match!

Why The World Needs Rafael Nadal!

If you watched Superman Returns, Lois Lane typed 'Why The World Needs Superman' on her laptop as the title of her article about her superhero. Because the movie ended a few minutes after that scene, I wouldn't know if Miss Lane was able to finish writing her piece. But for me, I am sure I am going to finish mine. Why? Because Superman is fiction and is from another planet, while Rafael Nadal is real and is from ours.

I first saw Rafa play in person in Seoul in 2006. Wearing a headband, sleeveless shirt, and shortened capris pants, he played Roger Federer in a three-setter. I saw him again in person in 2007 polishing his serve at the practice courts of the Australian Open, this time in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts with uncle-coach Seńor Toni Nadal looking on. 

                      (RAFA at friends' breakfast table in Manila)

Since he broke into the scene, Rafa has set his own records and realized his dreams: a career grand slam by winning all the four majors plus an Olympic gold medal (in singles and doubles), the youngest to win this and that, a number one world ranking, and the player who has won the most titles here and there, including a record 13 French Open titles! 

When he returned to the tour in early 2013, after seventh months of injury, he entered nine tournaments and won seven of them! Rafael Nadal made a comeback look so utterly simple! After all the pain from the injury, all the worrying of how his knee would hold up and the doubts of gaining back his old form, he rose from all these to prove to us that he, indeed, is one super tennis player.

                  (Waiting for our turn at the domestic airport)

His return to tennis that year reminds me of Monica Seles and Martina Hingis' comebacks. When Monica returned from a break from tennis caused by that tragic stabbing, she immediately won her first tournament and even won another Australian Open title. Martina, on the other hand, in 2006, made it to the top 6 of the singles' ranking and even won three titles plus an Australian Open mixed doubles title.

Going back to the superman of the hour.

During the 2013 French Open, I was one of the millions of tennis fans all over the world watching Rafa's semi-final match against Novak Djokovic, the world number one then. Like everyone else, I thought Rafa would win the match and march on to another final by serving it out the fourth set. But unfortunately, he was broken and Nole forced a tie-break which Nole won. And even on the fifth set, the match was all see-saw and at some moments, it looked like Rafa would not be able to defend his title that year.

               (Just landed at the domestic airport near 
             my hometown with Rafa being hand-carried)

But that's tennis. You never are sure that you have won the match until you shake hands at the net. And if that's tennis, that's also Rafa. His opponents are never sure they have won until the chair umpire has declared so. Even the top players have always admitted that, perhaps, the most difficult opponent to play against is Rafael Nadal. And at that very entertaining semi-final, which was worthy of a final, I would have given out two trophies for the two. (I would love to have a copy of that match, by the way. That one is a classic!).

                      (At my hometown in the Philippines)

And as I watched him play at the French Open (sadly, on TV only!), Rafa was just relentless. He didn't give any free points away. His opponents had to earn them. His left-handed forehand was so mean with lots of topspin, which I think, had more revolutions than the combined revolutions of our planet in its whole lifetime. His down-the-line forehand was spectacular to watch; it was just as straight as the white side-line at the Philippe Chatrier court.

And his defense that year was just as formidable. He scrambled from one side to the other, sliding and gliding on the red clay as a figure skater would on ice. He sliced, lobbed and dealt with any blow like Superman would. But unlike the superhero, Rafael Nadal does not have a weakness on clay. Even if the tennis balls were made of kryptonite, he would still win.

                                       (On the plane)

Although at the finals match that year, his compatriot David Ferrer didn't give him any scare, a couple of attention-seeking incidents gave the 2013 French Open Men's Finals some sideshows.  The title had belonged to Rafa for the eighth time that year. He is royalty at Roland Garros and at the European clay courts. He truly is the master and king of clay.

When I was in Manila in early 2013, I went into a bookstore looking for his book, simply titled, RAFA. The staff told me it was the last copy and got it at a sale price of only PHP200 (about US$5). A steal! Over the next few weeks, I slowly read his book when I was on the road, at home, on the plane or even at the subway. Rafa recounted where it all started and how he became this huge superstar of tennis with both of his feet planted on the ground. He remains humble and close to his family and loyal to his hometown of Manacor in Mallorca, Spain.

                  (At the tennis courts in Seoul where I play)

He is one likable superstar. Even with his stellar achievements, he seems just like an ordinary person with whom everyone, especially his millions of fans, can easily relate to. 

So, why does the world need a Rafael Nadal?

Well, there are millions of reasons each of his millions of fans can give. But we can start with these: because we have a lot to learn from him, we love to watch him play, we like him for his humility, talent, and devotion to his discipline. 

But above all, I think, the world needs Rafael Nadal because he is our own superman.

          (Rafa's book and my breakfast on the weekend 

he won his 8th French Open in 2013! 

Now that he has won 14 French Open titles

and  22 Grand Slams, 

I think my breakfast should level up, too!)

#rafaelnadal #rafanadal #tennis #tennisplayer #tennislife #rolandgarros #frenchopen #sports #superman