Tennis Masterclass: Gorgeous in Pink

Federer's match with Tomic kept me sleepless and almost to the point of having a heart attack with their well-played high-level game. I wondered about Roger losing at several points of the match. But my higher-self actually reminded me that I was committing a grave offense by doing so. However, with the way Tomic played today, there was really a chance that he can win over Roger and my love will be out of the tournament. But I am very much aware of Roger's capability to come back [with a vengeance] after losing points or games even. I have faith in his magic.

Well, while I was kinda pretending to brew some sort of heart ailment while watching the match, I came up with my 2013-Aussie-Open-in-a-nutshell-in-the-eye-of-the-die-hard-fan. Long title isn't it? I cannot manage to conjure a proper description for this thingamajig I doodled on my tablet but here they are:

1. Yellow is not the lucky color for this tourney. It is actually pink [and anything not yellow]. Look at how Roger and Serena fared in their matches because they are not wearing yellow. Read: the ball is already yellow!

Wear yellow to counter the blistering heat down under?

Real men wear pink!

2. Do not waste your challenges, you will miss them when they are gone. Do not misuse them as breathers between points. I cannot imagine how frustrated Tomic was when he was left without any challenges. He had no choice no matter what the lines people or the umpire say about a ball being in or out because he used up all his challenges. Lucky him, all calls made afterwards were undoubtedly good. On the contrary, do not waste the opportunity to challenge especially if you are pretty sure that you hit the line even if it is just barely kissing its edge.

Technology that could change a player's fate.

3. Youth is foolish when it underestimates age. Roger is 11 years older than Tomic but he moves as if he was in the same age group. Amazing how he can stride from one side of the court to the other effortlessly and make a stunning point. At his age, he is still very fit and I would not be surprised if he would still be playing until 35.

Ageless Roger.

4. The umpire teaches accountability for every challenge made. Even if the shot was clearly out, they do not insist and tell the player that it is out despite being sure 100%. As the cliche goes, it is your choice anyway. Also, raise your hand [or racket] courteously if you want to challenge.

Take it on the umpire.

5. Faith is believing that your single backhand return will go in even without really looking towards the path of the ball. Roger is very well known for his killer backhands and a fan would be very much aware that he does strike without even looking where the ball is going.

I wonder if I will make an epic point.

6. Slide gracefully if you can but do not overreach nor overstretch to save that single point cause that one point can cause you your ankle and even your career.

Don't run after a wandering ball. 

7. You are only as good as your last serve or return. If you lose the point, snap out of it and start anew. Sounds difficult but this is the mindset of all great sportspeople. In the same line, you are only as good as your last match or last tournament. Always think of doing your best as if it was your last game.

8. Some things are better quick and short. Roger keeps his rallies short. Less fuss, more points. Also, learn to take your aim. Tennis players use their free hand to point towards where they want the ball to go. It is much like goal-setting really.

Aim for the stars.

9. Keep calm, just carry on. Losing, like winning, is an experience. You would not be able to appreciate what it is to win without losing. When you lose, it does not mean that you are not good, it just goes to show that there are better players than you.

10. It is okay to scream. It does not matter how loud, lewd or weird it may sound, but for athletes especially tennis players, shouting or screaming is like venting out the pressure which helps boost the strength or your shots. Azarenka and Sharapova playing against each other may sound like a total nightmare but boy, they surely will give you one heck of a display of their tennis prowess. Well, also it is okay to cry. Remember Murray's epic speech and tears after he lost to Federer in Wimby last year? It goes to show that these deities of tennis are human after all. Like what the popular Superman song says, even heroes have the right to bleed.

Roger Federer wining Wimbledon 2012 with Andy Murray in tears.

That's it folks. I'd better get some shut eye now. Heroes need to sleep as well.

Do not irritate Roger with a drop shot. Who are you anyway?