Popular Posts

Friday, July 12, 2019

Wimbledon 2019: The Legendary Three Continue to Blaze A Trail With Bautista Agut





We are living in an incredible age in men's tennis when three disparate rivals have made mincemeat of the rest of the field.

When I was growing up, the idea of having 14 grand slam titles (c/o Pete Sampras), was mind-boggling enough.

But in a span of a decade, three men have done what was supposed to be a difficult feat (it still is - they just make it look easy) and they had to fight with each other as well, just to win a slam!

I don't know for how long this dominance will last. Conservatively, I put it at the next five years - and yes, it's very possible that Federer's 20 grand slam titles will be erased - either by him or Rafa or Novak.

That is of course, unless one of the younger guys narrow the evidently wide chasm that separates them and the legendary three.

As for now, at Wimbledon 2019, add Roberto Bautista Agut to the three other men (Tsitsipas, Pouille, Thiem) who have reached the semifinal stage of a grand slam this year.

Does he have a fair chance to win this title? I guess it's all in his mind and his feet, because he'll be running and running and returning balls like he has never done from his other opponents.

And he has to defeat Novak tonight, and come back to defeat either Rafa or Roger.

It's like dealing with the Williams sisters during their heydays. It's almost impossible to defeat both of them in one slam. You may win against one sister in one round, but you may have to deal with an equally stronger sister in the next round (I don't know if someone ever did it).

On paper, it should be a Novak - Roger final, following their pedigree on this surface - but we never know how hungry Rafa is for another grass title. And Bautista Agut has to play his 110% if he wants to keep up with the wily Novak.

As for me, I will just lie on my lazy-boy and keep my supply of popcorn going while they play in an up-and-down struggle to win three sets.

The golden age of men's tennis continues.....




No comments:

Post a Comment