especially those who have this blog as their homepage, or at least favorited or RSS, I apologize for the delay but I'm making up for it with these baller pictures of Tsonga.)So, I mentioned earlier that I witnessed the match of my spectator life and made cameos on TV! (Go to 1:32 of this video) This is that story. It all started when my phone died. I was with my friend Pete who had to leave soon, trying to reach my boy Dias who was part of Istomin's entourage cheering him through a 5-setter against Lapentti. Pete and I tried to go watch various other matches and sneak onto courts but the night session people were arriving, full of vigor, trying to get their money's worth by viewing some of the day matches that ran late. The influx of feisty nightlings causes huge lines and our stick-to-itiveness was running low this late in the day. I also have an annual line waiting quota which I save for the NFL Draft so I didn't want to dip into that account. P and I said goodbye and I hadn't reached my other friend D. For some reason, I wasn't ready to leave yet so I figured I would give it one last shot to try to get a seat on a court. The line to get into Armstrong had subsided and it's connected to the Grandstand so I figured I might be able to get in there to see Dent and possibly find D. After my usual crafty maneuvering, I found a seat in the 3rd row of the Dent Navarro match. Then my intell training came in handy because I spotted my friend D and sat with him. This is the e-mail I wrote to my poor friend Pete after the match:
-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Donahue
Sent: September 5th, 2009
To: Pete
Subject: Sorry I was a bad friend
You made me stay and I let you leave. I lacked drive and enthusiasm when it counted most, the adversity of lines. I wish we could've traded places because although I cannot think of a better match I have seen live, you would've appreciated it all the more. Not the classic clash of styles mind you, these two gentlemen paid homage to THE original style, your beloved serve and volley. In this age, how did the final two grisly survivors of a dated, dying, futile, practically extinct style meet in the main draw of a grand slam? I don't know but I'm glad they did. I doubt serve and volley will make a comeback but those very skills need a revival in the modern singles game. How many times did we see a guy dump a volley, choke on a floater, or give his opponent an easy pass? Too often. I saw the composure it takes to deliver a big hold and the tenacity necessary to get the break. In the serve and volley game, they don't hand out breaks and the first person to slip up on their serve is in a hole. I just had a serve and volley clinic and it was inspirational!
Top 10 Things I'm Sorry You Missed:
10. Being on TV. I did end up sitting with Dias so I owe it to him for having my voicemail and inbox full of "haha saw you on TV throwing the X factor wearing a France jersey!"
9. Dent's profanity littered self mutterings, head jerks, cackle, and dropping his racquet and assuming the fetal position after not converting a double break opportunity.
8. The chair ump requesting the crowd to "respect both players and not..." and then being cut off by the cheering crowd.
7. Navarro complaining to the chair ump about the immediate crowd noise when dent launched a 147 mph serve that Navarro somehow returned; and then on the very next point, having the silence broken by a cell phone ring right as Navarro started his motion. He seemed annoyed because it was 5-5 in the 5th.
6. Me screaming "Dent and charge
Taylor!" on match point right before Dent carved the winning shot down the line.5. Dent's 148 mph BOMB!
4. The drop volleys and one handed backhand passing shots, the lunging stabs that always went in and intercepted what seemed to be sure passing shots at a critical moment, the immaculate pick-ups, Dent's topspin lobs off both wings, and Navarro painting the lines with every shot.
3. The anxiety of break points, then mini breaks, match points, and not knowing who was going to win.
2. Cheering and hoping it may bring Dent closer to the
win.1. The collective realization of the crowd that a 3-shot point that ends in a volley is not only highly effective but it's just as entertaining as the long-haired curiosities who slug it out ways away from that over which they hit.
Today I missed out on Del Potro's shank, Monfils' wristband, and seeing an epic serve and volley showcase with you, the purist.
If this seems at all trite or sappy, I assure you it is genuine. I merely occupied myself on the train by writing this.
Also, Navarro used two racquets, one for serving and one for returning.
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